HISTORY 



OF THE 



Michigan Agricultural College 



AND 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 



OF 



Trustees and Professors 



BY 

W: J^BEAL, Ph. D., D. Sc. 

Emeritus Professor of Botany 
ILLUSTRATED 

EAST LANSING 



Published by the Agricultural College 



1915 



^^t'^'* 



EDITION 3000 COPIES, 1915 



Lansiug, Michigan 

Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co. 

State Printers 



OO 



^ 

e^ 



PREFACE. 

The preparation of this history and these brief biographies was begun 
late in 1910, and has proceeded with many delays. The writer makes no 
apology for the unequal length of the biographical sketches, partly due 
to the difference in replies furnished in answer to his inquiries, and partly 
due to what seemed to the writer appropriate to say in each case. Defects 
will be apparent to every careful reader and errors will be found, notwith- 
standing the care of several persons in reading the proof. 

The author has preferred to make exact quotations when appropriate 
instead of giving the substance of the thoughts in his own words. 

Thanks are due Macmillan and Company for the privilege of copying 
a cut of Senator Morrill; to Dr. Demmon for permission to copy cuts of 
Governor Blair and regent Millard. 

Thanks, many thanks are given to Ray Stannard Baker, '89, for valuable 
aid in preparation of parts of the manuscript; also to Professor R. H. Petitt 
and Dr. G. D. Shafer for furnishing photographs; to Professor W. W. John- 
ston for reading manuscript, to Dean R. P. Lyman and Secretary A. M. 
Brown for readirg proof. 

The writer has had unusual opportunities to enable him to prepare the 
volume. 

Of the trustees and teachers of the college he has known all except twelve; 
two members of the board of education, H. L. Miller and J. R. Kellogg; 
two governors, Blair and Crapo; four members of the board of Agriculture, 
David Carpenter, Justus Gage, S. A. Yerkes, Charles Rich; President Will- 
iams, Professors Goadby and Weeks, and acting secretary C. A. Kenaston. 
He has worked in the faculty with all the professors of agriculture and 
nearly all the professors of horticulture. 

Dr. Kedzie, Professor Cook and the writer were together members of 
the faculty for twenty-two years, three-sevenths of the existence of the col- 
lege, — the writer was in continuous service for forty years. He has been a 
part of many troublous times, great revolutions and amazing improvements. 

This history of the college was placed in the hands of the Board of Agri- 
culture for pubhcation, February, 1913, more than two and a half years ago — 
two years prior to this the copy had been read and accepted by a committee. 
It has not been revised and brought down to date, as the long delay was not 
anticipated. 

W. J. BEAL. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

Reference to most books and papers furnishing items for the history 
have been made here and there in the text; some with long titles often quoted 
are here given each with a number which takes the place of the title in full. 

(1). Report of the Board of Managers of the Boston Asylum and Farm 
School for Indigent Boys, Thompson's Island, 93 year. Charles H. Bradely, 
Supt., P. O. Box 1486, Boston, Mass. 

(2). L. H. Bailey in Cyclopedia of American Agriculture, edited by 
L. H. Bailey, Vol. 4, 1909, pp. 363, 364, 368, 370, 371, 375, 392, 399, 400, 
401, 414, 415, 422, 424, 425, 426, 427, 437, 461, 465, 471, 474, 475, 480, 483. 

(3). Transactions of the Michigan State Agricultural Society Vol. 6, 
J. C. Holmes, Secretary for 1854. In this volume appears an address by 
J. C. Holmes delivered before the Executive Committee of the Michigan 
State Agricultural Society at Lansing, June 12, 1885. Most of this address 
pertains to establishing a State Agricultural School, pp. 338, 339, 342, 343, 
344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 361, 362, 375, 
379, 390, 392, 393, 394, 397, 398, 400, 401, 402, 403, 404. 

(4). History of the University of Michigan by the late Burke A. Hins- 
dale. Biographical Sketches of Regents and Members of the University 
Senate, edited by Prof. Isaac N. Demmon, published by the University 
1906, pp. 15, 16, 17, 26, 27. 

(5). Bureau of Education, Circular of Information, No. 4, 1891. Con- 
tributions to American Educational History, Edited by Herbert B. Adams. 

No. 11, History of Higher Education in Michigan by Andrew C. Mc- 
Laughlin, Assistant Professor of History in the University of Michigan. 
Washington Government Printing Office, 1891. Article "The State Agri- 
cultural College" by President Oscar Clute, Lansing, Mich., pp. 105, 106, 
107, 108. 

(6). The Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction on Dedica- 
tion and Opening of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, 1857. 

(7). History of Collegiate Education in Agriculture by Dean Eugene 
Davenport in proceedings of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural 
Science, 28th meeting held at Lansing, Michigan, 1907, pp. 44, 52. 

(8). Transactions of the State Agricultural Society, Vol. 5, J. C. Holmes, 
Secretary for the year 1853. Address of President H. P. Tappan before the 
Society at Detroit, pp. 199, 200. 

(9). Second Annual Report of the Secretarj^ of the State Board of Agri- 
culture for the year 1863, pp. 18, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 
47, 48; 49, 50, 111, 112, 115, 116, 117, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130. 

(10). Third Annual Report of the Secretary of the State Board of Agri- 
culture for the year 1864. (All reports for this year are erronously stamped 
on the back of cover 1865) pp. 113, 114. 

(11). Transactions of the State Agricultural Society for 1857. Vol. 8, 
J. C. Holmes, Secretary, pp. 25, 285. 

(12). Diary of President T. C. Abbot beginning June 1840 and con- 



vi BIBLIOGRAPHY. 

tinuing to Dec. 1885. These full and interesting personal notes have been 
copied and placed in the vault of the Library. 

(13). Bulletin Vol. 4 No. 1 of the University of Illinois by President 
Edmund J. James, November 1910, proves that Jonathan B. Turner was 
the real father of the Morrill Act of July 2, 1862. 

W. J. BEAL. 
Amherst, Massachusetts. 

October, 1915. 



CONTENTS. 

HISTORY OF THE MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Chapter Page 

I. Laying the Foundation 1 

II. President Williams' Administration 22 

III. Acting-President Fisk's Administration 40 

IV. President Abbot's Administration 50 

• V. President Willit's Administration 82 

VI. President Clute's Administration 91 

VII. President Gorton's Administration 99 

VIII. President Snyder's Administration 102 

IX. Courses of Study. Divisions of 1. Agriculture, 2. Engineering, 3. Home 

Economics, 4. Veterinary Medicine 135 

X. Extension Work 157 

XI. Methods of Teaching 181 

XII. Manual Labor 193 

XIII. Organizations and Athletics 205 

XIV. Influence of the Grange and Farmer's Clubs upon the College 228 

XV. College Publications 236 

XVI. Monuments 242 

XVII. Museums and Botanic Garden 248 

XVIII. Weather Observations at the College 256 

XIX. The Campus and Buildings 259 

XX. Attendance at the College 287 

XXI. Endowments and Appropriations 295 

XXII. In Conclusion 306 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKIETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND PROFESSORS. 

1. State Superintendents of Public Instruction. Ex ofl&cio. Elected by the 

People 318 

State Board of Education. Appointed by the Governor 324 

State Board of Agriculture 324-384 

2. Governors Ex-OfUcio 325 

3. Members by Act of the Legislature 339 

4. Members Appointed by Governor and Senate 346 

5. Members Elected by the People 375 

6. Secretaries 378 

Treasurers 385 

Faculty of the College. 

7. Presidents 385 

8. Professors 397 

9. Librarians 472 

10. APPENDIX TO THE HISTORY 477 

A. Act Establishing the Agricultural College 478 

B. Reorganization of the College 480 

C. Selection of Lands Donated by Congress 482 

D. Establishing a Military School 483 

E. College Men in the Civil War 484 

F. Should an Agricultural College be independent or united with a university 496 

GENERAL INDEX 505 



CHAPTER I. 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 



As Judge Thomas M. Cooley once remarked in an address, Michigan 
was fortunate in the persons to whom the destinies of the territory were 
committed in early days. It is a remarkable tribute to the quality of the 
pioneers who migrated to the back woods of Michigan that even before the 
territory had a total population of 200,000, while the original forest was 
still largely unbroken and wild animals still plentiful, that they should 
think of establishing a State University — which was opened in 1841 with 
two teachers and six students. It was still more remarkable that fourteen 
years later, they should attempt a new and untried form of education, and 
should establish in the forest near Lansing, twentj^-seven miles from the 
railroad at Owosso, and thirty-seven from that at Jackson, an Agricultural 
College, the first of its kind in the world. 

At the time when Michigan was framing her constitution and organizing 
her state institutions, as Judge Cooley further points out in a statement 
elaborated by Dr. B. A. Hinsdale in his History of the University of Michigan, 
there was a wide-spread educational revival in the United States. While it 
was purely American in its origin, it was stimulated and to a degree shaped 
by foreign influences. 

Judge Cooley relates the interesting story of the Avay in which the impulse 
from the centers of culture in Europe reached the heart of the backwoods of 
Michigan. 

"American students in small numbers," he says, "begun to resort to the 
German Universities for the teaching they could not get at home in the 
decade 1810 — 1820, and about the same time our scholars and teachers, also 
in small numbers, began to visit German schools and to report to their 
countrymen what they found. But, curiously enough, the strongest stream 
of German influence reached us through French channels. Madame De 
Stael's 'Germany,' pubhshed in an Enghsh version in London in 1813, was 
a revelation to some minds in this country. These ideas were a system of 
public instruction embracing the three divisions of schools, — primary schools, 
secondary schools and universities; a system created, supported, and super- 
vised by the state, thus securing responsibility and unity. It is no exaggera- 
tion to say that a single copy of M. Victor Cousin's Report, which found 
its way into the oak openings of Michigan, produced results, direct and 
indirect, that far surpass in importance the results produced by any other 
educational volume in the whole history of the country. 

"Two men suffice to form the connecting link between M. Victor Cousin 
and the educational institution of the new commonwealth. John Davis 
Pierce, a native of New Hampshire, who had graduated at Brown University 
and studied theology at Princeton, came to Michigan as a missionary in the 
service of the Presbyterian Home Missionary Society in 1831, making his 
home at Marshall. Isaac Edwin Crary, born in Connecticut, and graduated 



2 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

at Trinity College in that state, who filled various stations in public life, 
came to Michigan the next year, also making his home at Marshall. Pierce 
and Crary were both educated men, were both interested in the growing 
cause of education, and were both devoted to the state of their adoption. 
It is said that, neighbors as they were, they often discussed together the 
future institutions of the rising commonwealth. The stray copy of Cousin's 
Report came to Mr. Pierce's hand, who not only read it with the deepest 
interest, but promptly passed it on to his friend Crary, who was also deeply 
impressed by it. Fortunately, General Crary was a member of the conven- 
tion that framed the State Constitution of 1835, and, still more fortunately, 
the Chairman of the Committee of Education. It accordingly devolved 
upon him to draft the educational article which was placed in the State 
Constitution. 

"This article, when perfected, embraced five sections. The first section 
ordained that the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Legislature on joint vote, should appoint a Superintendent of Public In- 
struction, who should hold his office for two years, his duties to be prescribed 
by law. Section second made it the duty of the Legislature to encourage, 
by all suitable means, the promotion of intellectiial, scientific and agricul- 
tural improvement. 

"Governor Mason, in his first message, commended the school system that 
was to be devised for the state to the wisdom of the Legislature; but this 
body, at the time, took no other action than to define the duties of the Super- 
intendent of Public Instruction, directing him, among other things, to prepare 
and digest a system for the organization and establishment of common 
schools, and a University and its branches. The Governor promptly nomi- 
nated Mr. Pierce for this office, and the Legislature as promptly confirmed 
the nomination. He held the office six years, during which time he rendered 
the state the most distinguished and valuable services as an educational 
executive. He was the first proper State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion in the United States." 

The vision of these early educational leaders was broad, comprehensive 
and democratic. They even saw plainly from a very early day the necessity 
for agricultural education: and in the act approved March 18, 1837, which 
gave birth to the University of Michigan, it is significant that instruction 
in "practical farming and agriculture" was specifically provided for. 

Under the provisions of this act, f'the Board of Regents together with 
the Superintendent of Public Instruction were to establish such branches 
of the University in different parts of the state as from time to time should 
be authorized by the legislature. In addition to preparation in the English 
language, mathematics, education of teachers and other topics to prepare 
students to enter the LTniversity, there should be in each of these branches 
a department of Agriculture with competent instructors in the theory of 
the subject, including vegetable physiology and agricultural chemistry and 
experimental and practical farming and agriculture." 

Some of these branches were organized but were short lived and none 
of them attempted to teach agriculture. It was thus the original idea of the 
educational statesmen of Michigan that agriculture should be taught in the 
LTniversity on a par with other subjects, but it was not until a number of 
years later, the university having failed to establish agricultural courses, 
that the agitation for a separate college of agriculture was begun. It was 
difficult in practice to get away from the old classical models in education. 

During all these early years a great many experiments were undertaken 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 3 

elsewhere, both in this country and in Europe, that looked toward the teaching 
of practical agriculture. Many of these were undoubtedly known to the 
educational leaders in pioneer Michigan. According to Professor Edward 
Hitchcock of Amherst College, who was a member of a commission which 
made a report to the legislature of Massachusetts in the year 1851 of an 
investigation into agricultural teaching in Europe, the earliest effort in that 
direction was made in France in 1775 by M. L'Abbe Rosier. He called 
it "A Plan for a National School of Agriculture in the Park of Chambord." 
At the time of Professor Hitchcock's visit there were in operation in various 
foreign countries over 350 schools where agriculture was taught. An in- 




COLLEGE HALL BUILT IN 1856. 



teresting glimpse of what a European agricultural school of sixty years 
ago was like in 1850 is given in the report to the Massachusetts legislature 
of a visit made by Professor Hitchcock to a school connected with the Uni- 
versity of Edinburgh: 

"Several rooms in the university buildings are devoted to this department. 
There we find exhibited numerous models of agricultural implements, and 
of ])uildings, chiefly barns and out-houses, for the farm; also seeds and dried 
plants, marls and soils, chemical substances, a few skeletons and anatomical 
drawings, and, more particularly, as many as a hundred fine drawings, 
mostly as large as life, of the best breeds of domestic animals. These draw- 



4 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

ings are chiefly given by Professor Low, in his two works on the domesti- 
cated animals. The younger students generally fill up the period of the 
session by attending other classes in the university, or of private teachers, 
chiefly chemistry and natural history, and several of them likewise attend 
the course of lectures delivered in this city by Professor Dick, on veterinary 
surgery. 

"Professor David Low of Edinburgh adds: 'I have found by experience, 
that it is not necessary to have a farm in connection with the chair. All 
the essential points of practice being previously explained, the students are 
prepared to enter upon the study of the subject in the fields. To this end, 
they usually board in the house of some respectable farmer for such a period 
as suits their convenience, not less, I recommend, than twelve months, so 
that they may see the operations of an entire season. There are numerous 
respectalDle farmers, both in the south of Scotland and in the north of Eng- 
land, who are in the habit of receiving pupils and instructing them in the 
different branches of their profession.' " (3) 

Long before this, however, indeed less than thirty years after L'Abbe 
Rosier made his early suggestion for agricultural education in France, a 
farm school had already been established in this country, in the year 1804 on 
Thompson's Island not far from Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest 
school in this country of which I have any knowledge, and is still in opera- 
tion. The present superintendent is Charles H. Bradley, P. 0. Box 1486, 
Boston, Massachusetts. 

"The first agricultural, industrial and technical school that did actual 
work in North America was probably the Gardiner Lyceum, established 
at Gardiner, Maine, in 1821, and incorporated by the legislature of the 
state of Maine in 1822, — the second year after it became a state. Indeed, 
among the very first of the legislative acts of the new state was that incor- 
porating this school. In 1825, the legislature appropriated $1,000 a year 
for three years, and in 1828 extended it for three years more. This is probably 
the first state grant made in the United States for agricultural and technical 
education. The Lyceum continued with varying success until the year 
1832, when it was closed for lack of support and patronage. The institu- 
tion was later opened as an academy, and subsequently the building was 
transferred to Gardiner as a high school, and it was subsequently burned. 

"An agricultural department was organized at Trinity (then Washington) 
College, Hartford, Connecticut, at the time of its foundation in the middle 
eighteen-twenties. Horatio Hickok, A. M. (Yale, 1798), is named in the 
catalogue as Professor of Agriculture and Political Economy." 

"Farmers' College, at College Hill, Ohio, six miles from Cincinnati, seems 
to have been the first American institution bearing the name of college, 
and continuing through any series of years, to give real attention to agricul- 
tural matters. It was not a college of agriculture as the term is understood 
at the present day; but it made a sustained effort, under the condition of 
its time. The institution started as a private literary academy in 1833, 
Mr. F. G. Cary, its founder, taking four pupils into his own family." (2) 

"Amherst college gave instruction in agricultural chemistry as early as 
1853-4, and in 1852 offered agriculture as a part of a separate 'scientific 
department' which it then organized. In this department, the Rev. J. A. 
Nash taught the agriculture, and he prepared a text-book." (2) 

In 1847, ten j^ears before the Michigan Agricultural College opened for 
students a boarding school located in Lenawee county, between Adrian and 
Tecumseh was opened by the society of Friends or Quakers. It was called 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 5 

a manual labor school with a farm of over four hundred acres organized 
with full expectation that the students were to labor and thus pay a portion 
or all of their expenses. The girls did much of the house work, the boys 
cut wood and did some work in garden and field. No one especially quali- 
fied was employed to teach the students in this work. The plan gradually 
fell into discredit and most of the farm was sold. The school was later 
for many years called The Raisin Valley Seminary. The writer was a student 
in this school during its organization and for several years later. 

"The 'Ohio Agricultural College' was opened in Oberlin, northern Ohio, 
in 1854. It continued one year at Oberlin and two years at Cleveland. 
The largest attendance was about forty students. It did not grow, and 
therefore was discontinued." (2) 

I omit the mention of a number of other schools established early in various 
places which included agriculture in their courses of study. 

Although the act incorporating the University of Michigan in 1837 made 
provision for the teaching of agriculture, it was not until the farmers them- 
selves, their societies and their journals, took up the agitation seriously 
that anything was accomplished. 

As early as February 1844, Jonathon Shearer ably advocated more thor- 
ough education of farmers in the Michigan Farmer. 

But the great forces which now began to move were the Michigan State 
Agricultural Society and several able men who felt a deep interest in advanc- 
ing the cause of agricultural education in the state. The two men who 
probably did most for the cause at that time were Joseph R. Williams, who 
afterwards became the first president of the college, and J. C. Holmes, secre- 
tary of the State Agricultural Society, who afterwards became professor of 
horticulture. 

Beginning in 1849, the agitation was continuous and increasingly effective 
until the college was opened in 1857. 

In an address delivered at Marshall, before the Calhoun County Agricul- 
tural Society, September 20, 1849, Hon. William M. Fenton, Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor, argued at length in favor of education in the science and practice of 
agriculture. (5) 

In the first annual address before the Michigan State Agricultural Society 
held in Detroit, September 26, 1849, Hon. E. H. Lothrop spoke with point 
and force of the great need of more thorough training in botany, chemistry, 
physiology, zoology, and mechanics, because of their direct bearing on agri- 
culture, and he appealed strongly to farmers to give their sons and daughters 
a better education. 

Mr. Lothrop appeared to have entertained views regarding education far 
in advance of his day. 

He also advocated the introduction of agriculture into the common schools. 

"Make our common schools what they should be, and let the branches 
there taught have a direct reference and bearing upon the future business 
of our children. Make our common schools the nursery of farmers." (3) 

On October 11, 1849, Joseph R. WilHams gave a most vigorous address 
before the Kalamazoo County Agricultural Society, at its fourth annual 
fair, in which he called on all farmers to educate themselves and their 
children. (5) 

At the close of that year (1849) we begin to hear of resolutions and 
memorials to the legislature. One of the earliest resolutions was prepared 
by Bela Hubbard and passed at a meeting of the executive committee of the 



6 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

State Agricultural Society held in Jackson, December 19, 1849. (See report 
for 1850.) It follows: 

"Resolved: That our Legislature be requested to take such legislation as 
shall appear necessary or expedient for the establishment of a State central 
agricultural office, with which shall be connected a museum of agricultural 
products and implements, and an agricultural library, and as soon as prac- 
ticable an agricultural college and a model farm." 

On January 1, 1850, Mr. Hubbard carried out the suggestion of his 
resolution in a strong memorial to the legislature in which he outlines, crudely, 
a plan for the future college. He here emphasizes the point that it should 
be a labor school, and that it should be connected with the University. His 
interesting memorial to the senate and house, follows: 

"The day has forever gone by when an enlightened liberal education was 
deemed useless for the farmer. Agriculture has risen into a science, as well 
as a laborious art; a science, too, the most comprehensive of all others, and 
which demands not alone strong hands and bodily labor, but active, vigorous, 
cultivated intellect. * * * * No matter what be a man's business, the more 
varied his education, the better, as he thus enlarges the sphere of his mind, 
and multiplies the sources upon which he can draw through life, both for 
profit and enjoyment. But above all, an education which shall include 
the natural sciences, is especially important to the farmer, as in addition 
to their other applications, they are the foundation of agriculture. * * * * 

"In this examination, the first and most important consideration is, that 
the Institution would be a labor school, in which the actual work performed 
by the pupils would be passed to their credit, in the account for their in- 
struction. Thus the expenses would be diminished if not altogether paid. 
The very act of labor would be a practical application of the precepts taught, 
and the poor would enjo}^ equal advantages with the rich. The Institution 
should be attached to, or form a branch of, the State University, as is con- 
templated by the charter of that institution. The studies taught at this 
college, should be of an eminently practical kind. 

"In foreign lands, not only is the poor man almost shut out from acquiring 
the bare rudiments of education, but, in a majority of cases, he cultivates 
the land of another, and the profits of his life of toil go to augment the wealth 
of some titled landlord, whose interest is to keep him ignorant. Here, on 
the contrary, labor is sure of its reward, and a few years of industry makes 
the poor but prudent laborer the proprietor of the soil he cultivates. He 
rises to the dignity of a free-holder. Of that reward, of that honorable 
rank, no potentate of this earth can deprive him. How high his privilege! 
How honorable his position!" (5) 

Six months later, on June 3, 1850, a convention for the revision of the 
!^tate constitution met in Lansing. It was fortunate that some of the 
members of this convention were friends of agricultural education and were 
not unfaithful to the cause in their convention work. On June 10th Samuel 
Clark, of Kalamazoo, moved the following: 

"Resolved, That the committee on education be instructed to inquire 
into the expediency of providing for the establishment of an agricultural 
school and model farm connected therewith." (5) 

As a result of this work in the convention an excellent provision was se- 
sured in the state constitution of 1850 — Article 13, Section 11, reads: 

"The Legislature shall encourage the promotion of intellectual, scientific 
and agricultural improvement, and shall as soon as practicable, provide for 
the establishment of an Agricultural School. 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 7 

"The Legislature may appropriate the twenty-two sections of Salt Spring- 
lands now unappropriated, or the money arising from the sale of the same, 
where such lands have been already sold, and any land which may hereafter 
be granted or appropriated for such purpose for the support and maintenance 
of such school, and may make the same a branch of the University, for in- 
struction in agriculture and the natural sciences connected therewith, and 
place the same under the supervision of the regents of the University." (3) 

In the same year (1850) the state legislature began to stir. It started, 
indeed, a most important movement by passing a joint resolution calling 
on congress for a gift to the state of 300,000 acres of land for the support of 
agricultural schools in Michigan. Thus was begun that agitation in congress 
that led twelve years later to the passage of the Morrill bill, giving the states 
30,000 acres of land for each senator and representative in congress for 
the support of schools of agriculture and the mechanic arts, under which 
bill Michigan received 240,000 acres of land. (5) 

Two years later, (1852) another memorial from the State Agricultural 
Society was presented to the legislature, ''praying for the establishment of 
a State Agricultural College." 

In the same year Francis W. Shearman in his report as State Superintendent 
of Public Instruction gave in a measure his idea of an agricultural college, 
crude as it was. He also favored a labor school and said that it should be 
attached to the University. A part of his report is given here, because it 
indicates a stage in the development of the plan on which the college was 
organized. 

"The first and most important consideration is that the institution would 
be a labor school; in which the actual work performed by the pupils would be 
passed to their credit, in the account for their instruction. Thus the expense 
would be greatly diminished if not altogether paid. The very act of labor 
would be a practicable application of the precepts taught, and the poor 
would enjoy equal privileges with the rich. The institution should be 
attached to or form a branch of the State University, as is contemplated 
by the charter of that institution, and having the benefit of lectures from 
the professors, and such other sources as may be expedient, resident professors 
with expensive salaries, would not be necessary.* There should also be 
attached a Botanic Garden, to be under the charge of the professor of Botany 
of the University, in which should be cultivated specimens of the trees, 
shrubs and plants indigenous to our State, as well as all plants and weeds, 
a knowledge of the properties and habits of which is useful to the farmer. 
The studies taught at this college should be of an eminently practical kind 
* * * * One prominent advantage possessed by the pupil in such an in- 
stitution should not be overlooked, in the judicious combination of labor 
and study; resulting in confirmed health, as well as bodily vigor ****** 
On the plan suggested, no large endowment is necessary." 

By this time it began to look as though the efforts of the State Agricultural 
Society and of the men who were so earnestly working for the better education 
of farmers would succeed, and the question arose as to the auspices under 
which such a college or school should be organized. Three different views 
immediately appeared; one group wished to have agricultural instruction 
connected solely with the University, another sought to bring it under the 
control of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, while a third group wished 

* Long experience has demonstrated the fact that it is more difficult to secure men who are effi- 
cient in the instruction of students in the field and garden than it is to secure professors to teach in 
the class room, hence they are not cheap men. — -The Author. 



8 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

to have a separate agricultural college. So eager now were both the Univer- 
sity and the Normal School to control the new work that both of them 
started rudimentary work in agricultural instruction. The discussion began 
then as to whether agricultural education should be an integral part of 
the University system continues to this day, and the writer will later present 
the views of a number of expert observers upon this important subject. 

The State Agricultural Society, with J. C. Holmes, its secretary, was 
the chief and most powerful advocate of a separate institution for teaching 
agriculture. Both the Normal School and the University opposed its plans, 
and soon began active agitation. 

On September 21, 1852, Francis W. Shearman, Superintendent of Pubhc 
Instruction, wrote a letter to the society, explaining the efforts that the 
State Normal School was making to give instruction in agriculture. He 
called attention to the clause in the organic law requiring this school to teach 
these subjects, and says: "A concentration of the means afforded by the State 
for the advancement of agriculture must be considered an object of import- 
ance, at all events, for years to come. The State Normal School has been 
permanently endowed with twenty-five sections of Salt Spring Lands, which 
will yield sufficient revenue in time, to carry out the purposes designed in 
its estabhshment." (2) 

In December, 1852, Henry P. Tappan, Chancellor of the University, also 
wrote to the society, outlining the attitude of the University. Dr. Tappan 
called attention to the provision in the constitution looking toward the 
appropriation of twenty-two sections of the salt spring lands for the main- 
tenance of the agricultural school, and to the contemplated connection of 
this work with the University, and proceeded : 

"In anticipation of this legislative grant, we have accordingly organized 
an Agricultural School, as a part of the scientific course recently adopted 
by the Faculty and Regents. 

"The following subjects are embraced in the agricultural course: 

"(1) Daily lectures on Chemistry (elementary and experimental), Chemis- 
try applied to the arts, meteorology and climate. 

" (2) Geology and Mineralogy, and the application of the same to mining, 
drainage, construction of public works, etc., illustrated by specimens from 
Michigan, the neighboring states and foreign lands; also models and drawings. 

"(3) Animal and Vegetable Anatomy and Physiology in general, the 
Physiology and diseases of domestic animals in particular, and the struct- 
ure and habits of insects in reference to grain, trees and horticultural plants. 

"(4) Organic Chemistry and the theory and practice of agriculture, the 
origin and nature of soils, the different varieties of manure, tillage, tools, 
etc. 

"Lectures on these subjects will be given during the next Spring and 
Summer term, commencing May 1st and ending June 30th." (2) 

Dr. Tappan was requested by the executive committee of the society to 
dehver the address before the society at its fair in September, 1853. In 
this address. Dr. Tappan made the following statements in regard to the 
province of the university: "I say. Farmers of Michigan, that our great 
desire is to make the University useful to you, and we are determined to do 
it. We will educate all your sons who wish to be educated for the different 
professions. We will educate those who wish to take a particular course to 
fit them for a particular business. We will educate those who wish to become 
strictly literary and scientific men. And beyond all this, we have established 
and will carry on an Agricultural Department for those who intend to devote 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 9 

themselves particularly to Agriculture. Whatever be the determination of 
the people of this State in respect to an Agricultural School, we know not how 
to teach Chemistry, Botany, Mineralogy and Zoology, without giving a 
course of agricultural science. The scientific perfection of our scheme of 
studies demands it. We shall do this independently of any consideration as 
to the disposition of the lands appropriated by the State for agricultural 
education. Our aim is to make the University one of the first in our country, 
and, if we can, second to none in the world; and therefore, there is no branch 
of knowledge that we can lawfully omit." (2) 

On March 14, 1853, a circular was issued by the regents of the University 
of Michigan, announcing that a free course of lectures on agricultural science 
would be given at the University from April 27th to June 28th of that year. 
The Rev. Charles Fox was announced as the lecturer on "Theoretical and 
Practical Agriculture." (8) In the following year (1854) he was appointed 
professor of agriculture in the University, but died on July 24th of that 
year after giving only a few lectures. He was born at Rugby, England, 
and educated there under Dr. Thomas Arnold, and later at Oxford. He 
was a clergyman of the Episcopal church. He was at one time editor of 
"The Farmer's Companion." 

Without doubt the clearest and best statement of the case for the University 
was made by Alexander Winchell, Professor of Geology, Zoology and Botany 
of the university, in a paper presented to the executive committee of the 
State Agricultural Society in March 1855 and reported on pages 343-355 
of the State Agricultural Society for 1854, Volume 6. It is so valuable a 
contribution to the subject that a rather lengthy abstract is given here. 

ON THE LOCATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"I have watched with great interest the progress of those events which 
have resulted in a legislative act, establishing an Agricultural College in 
Michigan, and locating it within 10 miles of Lansing. Michigan stands 
eminent among the States for the appreciative and liberal action of her recent 
Legislature, in making provisions for the technical education of the farmers 
of the State. 

"I. Among the causes that have led to the destined organization of the 
Agricultural College, I suppose the following have been chief. 

"1. Jealousy of CentraUzation. The American people have run into a 
ruinous extreme through fright at this bugbear. The citizens of Michigan 
manifest too much of a disposition to distribute the different public insti- 
tutions of the State among the different towTis of the State, and have advanced 
the sentiment that the University, as it now exists, is as much as Ann Arbor 
is entitled to. Centralization of educational resources is a far different thing 
from centralization of civil power and its applicances for controlling the 
masses. Scientific Agriculture is as pertinent to the University as Medicine 
or Civil Engineering. 

"2. Another reason which I suppose to have operated upon the minds of 
the Executive Committee of the Agricultural Society, and upon others, is 
the fear that a sufficiently technical education would not be furnished by 
the University. 

"I am inclined to think that such a fear would not be realized. After 
two professorships devoted to the specialties of agriculture shall have been 
created and properly filled at the University, I have no doubt that the student 
of agriculture will be able to learn more, and to learn it more thoroughly 



10 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

at the University, than in the contemplated Agricultural College. For 
the purpose of furnishing our young farmers with the requisite instruction 
in general science, there is no real necessity for duplicating professorships 
of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, Geology, Mineralogy, Metero- 
ology. Mensuration, Leveling and Political Economy. All these subjects 
are as well taught in the University as they can be in any Agricultural College. 
The endowment intended for the Agricultural College would be sufficient 
to render it as a department of the University, a most efficient auxiliary 
in promoting the agricultural interest of the State. 

"3. Another consideration which might very naturally have operated to 
produce the organization of the Agricultural College, is the fear that if con- 
nected with the University it could not be sufficiently under the control 
of the Agricultural Society. 

''I conceive it not only to be natural but right that the State Agricultural 
Society should strive to retain the State Agricultural School under their 
control. They are supposed to understand best what the agricultural in- 
terest of the State demand, and ought to hold the power to prescribe the 
regulations of the Agricultural College. 

"II. Having given briefly my reasons for dissenting from the premises 
which have led to the separate organization of the Agricultural College, I 
will now proceed to state my reasons for advocating its connection with the 
University. 

"1. Such a connection would cause a great saving in the first outlay. 

"It would save the expense of purchasing the site, and erecting the buildings. 
The interest on this outlay will be sufficient to support one or two professor- 
ships, even if the expenditure is reduced to a minimum. 

"It would save the expense of providing library, museums, and apparatus. 
The sciences most nearly related to agriculture are the natural sciences, and 
it is precisely these sciences which demand for their successful prosecution 
the largest expenditures for collections and apparatus The law prescribes 
the study of geology and mhieralogy, but how meagerly must these branches 
be pursued in the absence of geological and mineralogical collections. Such 
collections would need to be furnished, or the instruction would inevitably 
be of an inferior order. But these collections already exist at the University, 
and what is the need of duplicating them? But they cannot be duplicated. 

"All that I have said above, relative to geological and mineralogical collec- 
tions, applies literally to collections of quadrupeds, birds, insects and plants. 
Even were it possible to give the Agricultural College a corresponding outfit, 
the attempt would be an unnecessary and unwarrantable expenditure. 

"The same considerations apply to the library required for the uses of 
the Agricultural College. 

"2. Such connection would cause a great saving in the subsequent sup- 
port. 

"I have already mentioned the fact that the outlay required for the site, 
buildings, museums, philosophical apparatus, laboratory and library of the 
Agricultural College, all of which would be saved by its connection with the 
University, will be sufficient to support three or four professorships. But 
in addition to this the Agricultural College will require, to do the work that 
the University now does, at least four professorships in the different branches 
of general science, besides the two professorships above referred to devoted 
to agricultural specialties, not now treated in the University courses. This 
amounts to the endowment of seven or eight professorships which will be 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 11 

thrown away upon the Agricultural College, leaving the special agricultural 
professorships still to be provided for. 

"3. My third reason for advocating the connection of the Agricultural 
College with the University, is the belief that after the college comes into 
full operation, and the possession of all its contemplated advantages, it must 
necessarily afford instruction somewhat inferior to that offered by the 
University. 

"This belief results first, from the fact that most of the material and 
appliances for the prosecution of general science will always be superior 
at the University in consequence of its present superior furniture, as well 
as its superior ability to increase it in the future as circumstances may demand. 

" In the second place, the learning, ability and experience of the professors 
employed in the Agricultural College for the purpose of giving instruction 
in general science will be likely to be inferior to the learning, ability and 
experience found at the University. 

"4. My fourth reason for objecting to the divorce of the Agricultural 
College from the University is that the particular principles of Scientific 
Agriculture constitute properly an inseparable part of University instruction. 

''The school of medicine has been connected with the University because 
the University possesses ample facilities for giving instruction in those 
sciences which find their application in medicine. The school of civil 
engineering is a practical application of the algebra, geometry, and me- 
chanics taught at the University. On the same grounds should the school 
of agriculture be connected with the University; and it is not so much the 
interest of the University which demands it as the interest of the Agricult- 
ural School and the requirements of a sound economy. 

''5. An additional reason for advocating the union of the Agricultural 
College with the University is that such a course would tend to the centrali- 
zation and reproduction, instead of the dispersion and dissipation, of our 
educational resources. 

''It must be kept in mind, that the time which, under the present act, 
will be required for putting up the buildings at Lansing, will be saved, if the 
College is attached to the University. This saving of time is a gain which 
might well enter among the arguments for such a connection. 

"Finally, then, it appears clear to me, not only that the Agricultural 
College will derive incalculable advantages from a connection with the 
University, but that such a connection is even now a feasible project." (3) 

Such was the vigorous statement of Professor Winchell on the part of the 
University. It was received with all fairness by the State Agricultural 
Society, being indeed presented by J. C. Holmes, the secretary, who was 
the staunchest advocate of the contrary plan of a separate college. In 
answer to Professor Winchell's arguments. Secretary Holmes, who beheved 
him "mistaken in his premises, mistaken in his argument, and mistaken in 
his conclusions," quoted largely from a report of the commissioners who 
were appointed by the legislature, governor and council of Massachusetts 
in 1850 and who reported in January, 1851. I have already quoted from 
this admirable report. The Massachusetts commission was made up of an 
unusually talented group of educators and publicists. It consisted of Mar- 
shall P. Wilder, President of the United States Agricultural Society, Edward 
Hitchcock of Amherst College, Samuel A. Elliot, Thomas E. Payson, and Eli 
Warren. Professor Hitchcock visited Europe and made a study of agricul- 
tural schools in various countries and contributed largely to the report. 
The conclusions of these commissioners, as Mr. Holmes showed, was against 



12 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

the connection of agricultural colleges with universities, and it also made the 
point strongly that it was necessary to teach the practice as well as the 
theory of agriculture, which neither the university nor the normal school 
was prepared to do. These early leaders of the Agricultural Society felt 
that there must be actual farm life and farm experience to make agricultural 
education effective. So valuable is this report of the Massachusetts com- 
missioners and so influential in the early Michigan discussions, that their 
principal conclusions, based upon the experience of European schools, are 
given here: 

"1. That these schools usually fail, if they do not receive efficient aid 
from the government. 

"2. That agricultural societies are not sufficient. 

"3. That theory is to be tested by practice; and such theories as will 
not sustain this test are to be rejected. 

"4: That these schools are doing very much to promote the progress of 
agriculture. This was the general testimony. 

"5. That to teach agriculture in the primary schools and academies is 
not sufficient. This does some good, but does not accomplish all that is 
desirable. 

"6. That agricultural professorships, in colleges and universities are 
not sufficient. 1. Because lectures of this sort attract but few of the students 
of the colleges, who are looking forward to professional life. Such is cer- 
tainly the case everywhere in Europe. 2. Because the two classes of students, 
who would thus be brought together, would have too little sympathy to 
act in concert, and as equals, in the same institution. 3. Because, without 
such concert and sympathy, one or the other of the classes of students would 
feel no pride in the institution; and without such an esprit de corps it could 
not prosper. 4. Because such professorships, unless numerous, would be 
entirely insufficient to accomplish the objects desired. 

"We learn, from European experience, that independent agricultural 
institutions are essential to accomplish the object which is aimed at. 

"In this country, the cultivators of the soil are usually the owners of 
it; and it is they mainly who must establish an agricultural school, if one 
is established, for their own and their children's benefit." 

"The first question that arises is: What are the objects we may hope to 
attain by founding agricultural schools in the State? 

"1. Such schools would furnish to all classes of the community, an 
opportunity to acquire a definite knowledge of all the known princip'es by 
which agricultural pursuits should be conducted. 

"2. In such schools our youth would find an excellent opportunity of 
learning the best method of conducting the practical operations of the farm; 
in other words, of seeing theory reduced to practice. They would learn, 
also, how to labor with their own hands, for I take it such a requisition would 
be indispensable in these schools. 

"3. These schools would form centers of information on the subject of 
agriculture, and from them our farmers could derive important aid. They 
would keep in communication with similar institutions throughout the 
world, and thus would learn all that might be new or important in husbandry, 
and spread it through the community. 

i,"4. These schools would be the best places for testing the value of sup- 
posed improvements in agriculture. 

"5. They ought to be places for maldng improvements in agriculture. 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 13 

We ought not to expect too much in this respect, especially when the schools 
are new. 

"6. Finally, to sum up the whole in one word, the grand object of these 
schools is to improve the husbandry of Massachusetts. 

"Agricultural schools will aid in checking this disposition to emigration 
and tend to multiply the cultivated acres of Massachusetts. 

"Even if agriculture is taught in our colleges, academies and primary 
schools, it needs some one institution devoted entirely to the subject, to 
give effect and completeness to the subordinate teaching, and to carry it 
still farther; otherwise the agricultural knowledge will be as the literary 
would be, if the universities and colleges of the land were taken out of the 
way, and only the primary schools and academies remained. 

"It is necessary that such a school should be in charge of men who under- 
stand agriculture, and the wants and wishes of agriculturists, and who know 
what should be done to improve both." (3) 

In giving this report of the commissioners of Massachusetts, Secretary 
Holmes also argued strongly for the establishment of a separate school. 
He said: 

"So far then, as we are able to judge from the past experience of others, 
I think we may safely say that if we expect to meet with success in establish- 
ment, continuance, and practical utility of an agricultural school, it must 
stand separate and apart from all other institutions of learning, and upon a 
basis of its own. To teach thoroughly the science and practice of agriculture 
must be the main object of the institution, for our agricultural interest is 
paramount to all other interests in this state; therefore these teachings must 
not be made secondary or subservient to any other object." (3) 

Full reports have now been given of the discussion on both sides of the 
question as to whether the Agricultural College should - be located apart 
from any other school or whether it should be made a department of the 
University. 

This is still such an important and interesting question in many states 
that the writer has now (in 1913, fifty-six years after the establishment of 
the college) secured the views of eleven of its able graduates who are now 
occupying important places in agricultural college work and who have had 
experience both in independent colleges and in colleges connected with 
universities. Those who are interested will find the views of these expert 
observers summarized in Appendix F. of this history. 

In December 1854, Secretary J. C. Holmes pressed the question of the 
establishment of a separate agricultural college before the State Agricultural 
Society and the Hon. S. M. Bartlett, of Monroe, offered the following: 

"Resolves, That an agricultural college should be separate from any 
other institution." 

This was the first time that the Agricultural Society had reached a 
definite determination upon this question. 

"Two days later Justus Gage reported to the meeting a memorial to the 
legislature, praying for an appropriation sufficient to purchase a body of 
land suitable for an experimental farm and for the erection of suitable build- 
ings for an agricultural school, placing it upon a basis of its own, separate 
from any other institution of learning, and for the endowment of the same 
in such manner as shall place it upon an equality with the best colleges of 
the State." (5) 

This memorial was adopted. 



14 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

A petition to the legislature was prepared by a committee appointed for 
the purpose, asking for the establishment of an agricultural school without 
delay. This petition was circulated widely through the state. An original 
copy of this petition is before me, and folded with it is a printed slip dated 
Detroit, December, 1854, asking that signatures be procured and the peti- 
tion forwarded to Lansing by January 10, 1855. This slip is signed by 
J. C. Holmes. 

It was resolved that Mr. Bartlett be a committee to draft a bill for the 
establishment of an agricultural school, to be presented to the legislature, 
in accordance with the views of this committee, by them already expressed. 
The bill was improved in form by Hon. Isaac P. Christiancy, of Monroe, 
subsequent!}^ chief justice of the supreme court of the state, and also United 
States senator. Governor Bingham, in his message to the legislature on 
January 4, 1855, recommended the establishment of an agricultural schook (3) 

A bill was introduced into the house on the 19th of January, 1855, by 
Mr. Nathan Power of Farmington, Oakland county, for the committee on 
agriculture and manufactures, for the establishment of a state agricultural 
school, which, after passing through the usual routine, was lost on February 
7 by a vote of 31 to 39. 

"In the senate a bill for the establishment and endowment of an agricul- 
tural college was introduced on February 3, 1855, by Mr. Pattison, of the 
committee on agriculture. This bill was passed on February 9 by a vote of 
24 to 5. Going to the house it passed on February 9 by a vote of 52 to 13, 
and it became a law by the approval of the governor, Kinsley S. Bingham, 
February 12, 1856." (5) 

The success of this bill was undoubtedly due largely to the work of Mr. 
Holmes. Both he and Mr. Bartlett visited Lansing in Januarj^, 1855, to 
work for a bill establishing the school. After a few days Mr. Bartlett was 
compelled to go home, but Mr. Holmes remained most of the winter at his 
own expense, working for the bill. 

The act establishing the Agricultural College, consisting of thirteen sec- 
tions, will be found published in full in Appendix A. of this history. 

"No sooner had the law been passed than the work of establishing the 
college was begun. The 13th, 14th, and 15th days of June 1855 were spent 
by the committee in the examination of lands that had been offered for the 
purpose of the Agricultural School. There were ten proposals. On Satur- 
day, the 16th, the committee having decided upon a location, reported in 
favor of accepting the offer of A. R. Burr of Lansing, which included land 
as follows: 

"Section 13, Town 4 North, Range 2 West— 45 and 1-lOOth acres. 

"Section 18, T. 4 N., R. 1 W.— 83 acres. 

"Section 18, T.4 N., R. 1 W. south of Cedar River— 107 and 44-lOOth acres. 

"Section 19, T. 4 N., R. 1 W.— 385 and 12-lOOth acres. 

"Section 13, T. 4 N., R. 2 W.— 3 acres. 

"Lot known as the Smith tract 53 acres. 

"Making in all, 676 and 57-lOOth acres. Located in the townships of 
Meridian and Lansing." 

In 1851, B. Robert Burcham built a log shanty on the site of the present 
armory (1913), moving his family in the spring of 1852 when he began clearing 
about three acres including what was later used for athletics and drill ground, 
A few fruit trees were set. 

The price was $15 per acre. (3) 

By the legislative act establishing the college its control was given to 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 



15 



the State Board of Education. This board secured plans and let contracts 
for the erection of College Hall, 55 x 100 feet three stories and basement, a 
boarding hall, 82 x 43 feet, three stories high, which by close crowding could 
take in about 80 students, also a small brick stable, 28 x 40 feet. The con- 
struction of these buildings was superintended by S. M. Bartlett of Monroe, 
and with the exception of the barn they were completed by May, 1857. 
Meantime the faculty had been appointed by the Board, consisting of Joseph 
R. WiUiams, A. M., President and Director of the farm; Calvin Tracy, M. A., 
Professor of Mathematics; Lewis R. Fisk, A. M., Professor of Chemistry; 




LOOKING WEST. OLD BOARDING HALL, "SAINTS REST"; COLLEGE HALL AT THE 
RIGHT, BOTH BUILT IN 1856. 



Robert D. Weeks, Professor of English Literature and Farm Economy, 
and Secretary; John C. Holmes, Professor of Horticulture; and Enoch 
Banker, Assistant in Chemistry. May 11, 12 and 13, 1857, entrance exam- 
nations were held and 73 students were admitted. On the 13th of May 
the exercises of dedication took place. (5) 

In this connection it is interesting to laiow that New York state came 
very near to opening an agricultural college previous to the one opened in 
Michigan. The state passed an act on April 15, 1853, incorporating the 
New York State Agricultural College which was to be "endowed by sub- 
scriptions of the people and not by appropriations made by the legislature." 
But subscriptions did not come in, and the death of John Delafield, the chief 
mover in the enterprise, delayed action, so that the Michigan college was 



16 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

first established. Most likely Michigan won the priority by securing State 
aid instead of relying on subscriptions. 

An announcement of the Michigan Agricultural College, was issued 
December 10, 1856, by Ira Mayhew, Secretary of the State Board of Educa- 
tion, under whose control the Agricultural College and the Normal School 
were placed. (11) 

The following paragraphs are taken from this circular; they throw an 
interesting light upon the early conditions and requirements of the college: 

'' MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"The Agricultural College of the State of Michigan is located three miles 
east of the village of Lansing, upon a farm of nearly seven hundred acres. 
The West Wing of the College buildings, and a Boarding House, have been 
erected, and arrangements will be made for opening the Institution the 
first Wednesday of April next. 

"As but a limited number of students can be accommodated, owing to the 
want of the necessary buildings, and as applications from the various counties 
of the State are entitled to preference in the order of time in which they 
are made, it becomes important that persons, desirous of securing situations, 
make their applications for admission at an early day. These may be made 
to the Secretary of the State Board of Education, by letter, at Lansing, 
any time before the fifteenth day of January. 

"Age and Scholar shij) of applicants. 

"Applicants for admission as pupils must have attained the age of fourteen 
years, and must have acquired a good primary school education. 

"Manual labor. 

"Every student will be required to devote a portion of each day to manual 
labor, for which he will be entitled to receive an equitable remuneration. 

"Course of study. 

"The course of study has been arranged with direct reference to the wants 
and interests of the agricultural class in our State. It will embrace a wide 
range of instruction in Enghsh Literature, in Mathematics, and in Natural 
Science. Special attention will be given to the Theory and Practice of 
Agriculture in all its departments and minutiae. 

"Term-time and attendance. 

"The first term of the Institution will commence the first Wednesday in 
April, and will end on the last Wednesday of October. The second term 
will commence the first Wednesday in December, and end on the last Wednes- 
day of February. Students will not be received for less time than one term, 
unless for special reasons satisfactory to the Board of Instruction. Persons 
desirous of admission, should present themselves for examination at the 
College the Monday previous to its opening. 

By order of the State Board of Education." (11) 

The following general information is copied from the first catalogue of 
the Agricultural College published late in the year 1857. 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 17 



"Admission. 



"The terms prescribed to the first class of Students received were that 
they should pass a good examination in the branches embraced in a common 
School Education, viz: Arithmetic, Geography Grammar, Reading, Spelling, 
and Penmanship. 

"Numerous applications for admission have been made from other States. 
By reference to the law of organization, it will be perceived that the priv leges 
of the Institution are not extended to citizens of other States. 

"The accommodations at present furnished by the State are limited, being 
for about eighty Students only. 

"Term Time and Course of Studies. 

'^The Summer Term commences on the first Wednesday in April, and 
terminates on the last Wednesday in October 

"The Winter Term commences on the first Wednesday of December, 
and terminates on the last Wednesday of February. 

"An ample Chemical Laboratory has been purchased by the Professor of 
Chemistry, inferior to few in the country, and instruction in that Science 
will be thorough and practical. 

"Ample instruction will be given in the Natural Sciences. 

"The Course of Mathematics will be comprehensive. 

"The application of Science to the business and arts of life, will be prac- 
tically illustrated in the fiekl and the Lecture Room, especially where it 
bears upon Agriculture. 

"Instruction in Ancient and Modern Languages is not included as an 
object of the Institution. 

"A thorough English education is deemed indispensable, including Rhetoric, 
History, Moral and Intellectual Philosophy, Political Economy, the elements 
of Constitutional Law, etc., etc. 

"The Farm being almost entirely in a state of nature, a very large amount 
of the labor of Students must at first be bestowed where it will yield little 
immediate profit. Had the Institution possessed a large tract of arable land, 
at the commencement, the earlier results would be far more, profitable than 
they can now prove." (6) 

Thus was the college launched. Its early days were not, however, without 
many dangers and difficulties. No sooner had the college been established 
than there was an effort made in the legislature to destroy it. The Hon. 
Reuben Goodrich thus recalls an incident in the early history: 

"In 1855-57 I represented Genesee county in the State Senate, at which 
time there was a strong effort made to abandon the College scheme and sell 
the farm. 

"The land for the farm had previously been purchased and one wing of 
the College built between 1855 and 1857. 

"Upon that proposition the Legislature was very evenly divided. It 
looked like the scales were so evenly balanced that one vote either way would 
kick the beam. The friends of the measure asked for an appropriation — 
I think of $40,000 — to proceed with the work, and the battle was over that or 
the sale of the farm. The College was saved by a mere scratch, and we 
secured the appropriation asked for." (6) 

Few people realize what the condition of agriculture in America was when 
the college was opened in 1857. At that time the national government paid 
3 



18 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

little or no official attention to agriculture, save a few references in the report 
of the commissioner of patents, and the state governments were doing 
scarcely more. There was no teaching of any subject connected with agri- 
culture worthy of the name, and what is more there was little demand for 
such teachings. There were few agricultural journals and fewer books on 
the subject and these were primitive. In order to give some idea of the 
state of agricultural literature at that time, the writer appends to this chapter 
a list of the agricultural journals pu])lished in the United States and Canada 
in 1857 and also a list of books on general agriculture in the library of the 
Michigan Agricultural College, bearing date previous to 1857. 




Horse barn. Begun in 1856, completed 1857. Long since used as a carpenter shop. 

In 1857, systematic work in the dairy was unthought of; there was no 
Babcock test, no selection of bacteria for starters, no cream separator; no 
stock feeding with due regard to balanced rations, little practice in stock 
judging, none in fitting teams of students to compete at fat-stock shows. 

In the west there seemed to be no call for an agricultural student to spend 
his time in college learning from a competent teacher anything concerning 
poultry and honey bees. 

The connection between bacteria and the soil, the root tubercles of legumes 
and their agency in causing disease of plants were unknown. The chemist, 
with some aid from the geologist, was supposed to be the only teacher com- 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 19 

petent to meddle with the science of the soil, for soil physics had then 
revealed no wonders. 

Nowhere in America, scarcely anywhere in the world, was there a college 
where each student of a class pursued studies in plant histology aided by 
a compound microscope. 

Plant histology was yet in a crude condition, and it was not thought worth 
a place on the program; — the wonders of modern plant pathology had not 
been dreamed of. There was no plant ecology; no systematic study of 
grasses, or other forage plants, and weeds in their relation to agriculture; 
no spraying to ward off or kill insects or fungi; no plant breeding or study 
of the evolution of plants under domestication. Nothing was known of 
canning fruit. An experiment station was only thought of. There were 
no books that a professor of modern dairying would ever consult, except 
as "matters of curiosity or history. Most of these would be called "junk" 
to-day, 1913. There was no intimation of the silo. 

The growing of radishes, lettuce, cucumbers, carnations, chrysanthemums, 
and roses under glass for commercial purposes was of little account and not 
deemed worthy of consideration by college students. 

There was absolutely no attention paid to caring for trees or growing 
them for timber, but every student was expected to know how to cut down 
trees and get rid of them in the most economical way possible, to make room 
for wheat, corn and other crops that were deemed worth something. 

There was nothing to compare with sociology or economics as now under- 
stood involving the consideration of transportation, taxation, trusts, and 
other problems of prime importance to farmers. 

There was no call for special courses in any department of agriculture. 
No farmers' institutes had begun to arouse the people; no granges or farmers' 
clubs had ])egun "burning" over the land, warming the minds of farmers 
to concerted action in better methods. 

I have enumerated more than enough new topics to occupy the entire time 
of a student in an agricultural course for four years. 

Any one who has long l^een a teacher in a live agricultural college knows 
that every four to eight years there is sure to be a general breaking up and 
rearrangement of the studies with additions to certain lines. Every new 
professor soon discovers some feature of the course that he would like changed. 
No two men can see such things alike. Each has his preferences, depending 
on his training and his temperament. New discoveries, new methods, new 
wants of the students make frequent changes inevitable. There cannot 
be much that is stable or permanent. 

Agricultural Journals in 1857. 

At the date of opening the college to students, there were published in 
the United States and Canada approximately 30 agricultural journals, none 
of which at that time would compare in size, quality and circulation with 
most of those, about 500, printed in 1913. The term "agricultural journal" 
is intended to include journals treating of all kinds of domestic animals, all 
kinds of fruits, vegetables, flowers and plants. 

I name a few of the journals printed today that were in existence in 1857 
or previous to that date. (W.= weekly; M.= monthly.) 

American Agriculturist. Orange Judcl Company. W. $1. 1842. New 
York, Springfield, Mass., and Chicago. 

American Cultivator. W. G. James. W. $1. 1839. Boston, Mass. 



20 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Country Gentleman. Gilbert M. Tucker. $1.50. 1831. Albany, N. Y. 

Indiana Farmer. Indiana Farmer Company. W. 60 cents and $1. 1845. 
Indianapolis, Ind. 

Iowa State Register and Farmer. George W. Franklin. W. %1. 1856. 
Des Moines, Iowa. 

Michigan Farmer and Live Stock Journal. VV. 75 cents. 1843. Detroit, 
Mich. 

Northwest Farm and Home. Mr, and Mrs. Legh R. Freeman. M. $2. 
1847. North Yakima, Wash. 

Ohio Farmer. Lawrence Publishing Company. W. 75 cents. 1848. 
Cleveland, Ohio. 

Rural New-Yorker. W. $1. 1850. New York, N. Y. 

Tribune Farmer. S. Cushman Caldwell. W. $1. 1841. New York, 
N. Y. 

List of Books on General Agriculture bearing date previous to 1S57. 

To be found in the library of the Michigan Agricultural College. 
I am indebted to Professor A. C. Anderson for preparing the following 
list of books. 

1853, Andrews, Modern husbandry; a practical and scientific treatise on 

agriculture. 
1797, Anderson, Essays relating to agriculture and rural affairs. 
1824, Adams, Agricultural reader. 
1847, American husbandry, Vol. 1. 

Baker, Records of the seasons: prices of agricultural produce, and 

phenomena observed in the British Isles. 
1650, Blith, English improver improved; or. The survey of husbandry 

surveyed. 
Bradley, General treatise of agriculture, both philosophical and 

practical. 
1805, Bailey and GuUey, General view of Agriculture of Northumberland. 
1811, Brown, Treatise on agriculture and rural affairs. 2 vols. 
1834, British husbandry. 3 vols. 
1840, Balydon, Art of valuing rents and tillages. 
1847, Buel, Farmer's instructor. 
1847 and 1863, Buel, Farmer's companion; essays on the principles and 

practice of American husbandry. 
1857, Blake, The farmer at home: a cyclopedia of modern agriculture. 
1745, Columella, Treatise on husbandry, in twelve books. 2 copies. 
1846, 1847, Colman, European agriculture and rural economy. 2 vols., of 

each edition. 
1850-1852, Caird, English agriculture in 1850-51. 
1857, Daubeny, Lectures on Roman Husbandry. 
1764, Duhamel du Morceau, Elements of agriculture, 2 vols. 

1854, Donaldson, Agricultural biography: hfe and writings of British authors 

on agriculture. 

1750, Ellis, Farmer's instructor. 

1851, Emmons, Agricultural productions of New York. (Vol. 3 of Agricul- 
ture of N. Y.) 

1853, Fox, American text-book of agriculture. 

1764, Foreign essays on agriculture and arts. 

1801, Gleanings from books on agriculture. 



LAYING THE FOUNDATION. 21 

1655, Hartlib, Legacy of husbandry. 

1731, Hales, Statistical essays: being an essay towards a natural history 
of vegetation. 

1760, Hitt, Treatise of husbandry on the improvement of dry and barren 

lands. 
1876 & 1802, Home, Gentleman farmer. 

1843, Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, Transactions. 29 vols. 

1844, Hillyard, Practical farming and grazing. 

Hoskin?, Short Inquiry into the History of Agriculture. 
1836-1838— Journal of the American Institute of Agriculture. 3 vols. 
1757, Lisle, Observations in husbandry. 

1846, Low, Elements of Practical Agriculture. 

1792-1892, Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture. Centennial 

year, 1792-1892. 
1757, Maxwell, Practical husbandry. 

1761, Mortimer, Art of husbandry. 

1845, Mechi, How to farm profitably. 
1817-1820, Parkinson, Experienced farmer. 2 vols. 

1815-1818, Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. 4 vols. 
1857, Russell, North America; Its Agriculture and Climate. 
1818 & 1832, Sinclair, Code of agriculture. 

1743, Society of Improvers in the Knowledge of Agriculture in Scotland, 
Select transactions. 

1847, Stevens, Book of the farm. 

1800, Tuke, General view of the agriculture of North Riding of Yorkshire. 
1812, Tusser, Five hundred points of good husbandry. 
1822, Tull, Horse hoeing husbandry. 

1847, Washington, Letters on agriculture. 

Aside from these the following would also have been available: 
1850, Guenon, A treatise on milch cows; tr. by Skinner. 
1821, The Farmer's Manual by Frederick Butler, A. M. 

1848, A text book on Agriculture by M. S. Davis, M. D. 



22 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER II 

PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 

May 1857— March 1859. 

Dedication. 

A corps of professors having been chosen and the institution prepared 
for the reception of students, it was dedicated by the board of education to 
the purposes for which it was designed, with appropriate services on the 
13th day of May, 1857, in the presence of Governor Bingham, several other 
officers of the "tate government, and a large concourse of citizens from 
various parts of the state. 

In his brief remarks Hon. H. L. Miller, President of the Board of Education, 
said: ''During the time which this Board have been occupied in carrying 
out the designs which the State had committed to them, they have felt 
strongly that everything connected with the Institution was new, and 
that, in pushing them to completion, they would have to undergo peculiar 
trials, and could look nowhere for precedents by which they might be 
guided." (6 page 278.) 

In establishing the first agricultural college on this continent, all concerned 
anticipated some troubles, but none could have imagined the long years 
that must elapse before the college should become popular and win the 
support of most people of the state. It should l)e interesting to mention 
here some of the thoughts in the very remarkal)le address of the Hon. Joseph 
R. Williams, president of the institution: 

"I will, at the outset, deal with some of the objections to this Institution. 
Men will brand it as an experiment. They will demand results before they 
are wilhng to afford aid or sympathy. Even legislators pause in maturing 
the plan, which in its design and nature must be comprehensive or prove 
abortive. They propose to afford it a liberal endowment, and place it on 
an immutable foundation, if it shall prove successful They propose to allow 
us the range of waters when we have learned to swim on dry land. 

"The charge that an enterprise is an experiment has no terrors for me. 
The next objection urged to this Institution will be its cost, and the alleged 
taxation necessary to its support. The whole sum paid by the government 
for the promotion of Agriculture, may amount to $250,000 per annum, out 
of more than $7o,000,000 expended— one two-hundred and eightieth part 
of the whole. We have a Senate at Washington, of the great Statesmen 
of the nation. A few weeks ago it revised its Committees and abolished the 
Comniittee on Agriculture. So the Senate of your country recognizes in its 
organization no such national interest as Agriculture. 

''The United States Agricultural Society, at its annual meeting in January 
last, strongly urged the appropriation of 500,000 acres of land by Congress, 
to each of the States, for the promotion of Agricultural Education. The 
Legislature of Michigan, in 1850, anticipated them by instructing their 
delegation in Congress to ask 350,000 acres of land, for the establishment 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 



23 



of Agricultural Schools in this State, Let us hope, therefore, that in due 
time the national government will permanently endow this and similar 
institutions, and relieve the people of Michigan and other States from every 
duty but a benignant guardianship. 

''The next objection is embraced in a question triumphantly asked, 'How 
can you teach a man to plow or to hoe?' that is, 'How can his practical 
skill be improved?' I contend that even in this narrow view, the mere 
application of labor, there is much to be learned. 

"The farmer has more to learn practically about his business than any 
other man in the world. In fact, one-third of the industry and energies of 
the farmers of our country, are literally wasted in consequence of ignorance, 




JOSEPH R. WILLIAMS. 



and defiance of all rules of thrift and economy. The same recklessness among 
men in other pursuits would result in immediate bankruptcy and starvation. 

"Have the wheat growers nothing to arrest and investigate in regard to 
(Hessian fly) this destructive enemy? A malady has been sweeping off the 
swine in a large portion of the middle and western States, .icsignated after 
a fearful scourge of the human race, the Hog Cholera. The loss is estimated 
by millions of dollars. Whether caused by contagion, or whether it originates 
in some error of feeding, a law of the nutrition and growth of the animal 
is violated. Have the hog growers nothing to learn? 

"The difficulties which present themselves at the very threshold of this 
enterprise, it will be well to consider. 

"We have no guides, no precedents. We have to mark out the Course of 
Studies and the whole discipline and policy to be followed in the administra- 
tion of the Institution. There are numerous Agricultural Schools in Europe, 



24 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



but while an inspection would afford important vital suggestions, they would 
afford no models for us. 

''Again, the Institution commences here, almost in a virgin forest, to be 
subdued and subverted, before it becomes an instrument to maintain the 
self-sustaining character of the Institution, or a means of ample illustration. 
The labor and the appropriation must be largely bestowed in creating what 
it is desirable that we should have at ready command. 

"The want of a permanent endowment will act as a discouragement. 




In 1857, a wooden farmhouse 'purchased with the land' was rebuilt. Later it was the herdsman's 
house; but subsequently enlarged, moved to the north and occupied by the foreman of the 
horticultural department. 



In its infancy, the Institution must rely on the caprice of successive Legisla- 
tures. The adoption of a permanent policy requires a stable and reliant 
support that will carry it through adversity, regardless alike of the frowns 
or smiles of indifference, ignorance or malice. 

"Friends and enemies will demand too much, and that too early. The 
acorn we bury to-day, will not branch into a majestic oak to-morrow. The 
orchard we plant this year, will not afford a harvest of fruit the next. 

"It is proposed to do for the farmer what West Point does for the soldier; 
what the recently^established Scientific Schools of our country do for the 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 25 

machinist or engineer, or the Medical Course of studies does for the physician. 
For the Board of Education to proclaim now a fully matured plan is impos- 
sible. Experience may demand a different policy from what now seems 
imperative. 

"An amount of labor that will invigorate without fatiguing the system 
ought to be as profitable and exhilarating as it is necessary. 

"At the outset we are met with the objection that all attempts at associat- 
ing labor with the acquisition of knowledge, in seminaries of learning, have 
proved failures. In the Polytechnic Schools of Europe, and at the Military 
Academy at West Point, in our own country, the student is often engaged in 
severe physical exercise for many hours daily. 

"But if manual labor has failed in all other Colleges, it ought not to fail 
here, where it is inseparably connected with the acquisition of knowledge. 
Thus allied, the employment should be a charm instead of a drudgery. Prac- 
tical labor in this Institution is the vital, cementing, invigorating influence 
that will give it dignity, and it is hoped, complete success. 

"An Agricultural Library should be gathered here, more perfect than any 
which the country now affords. All knowledge relative to the Agriculture 
of the past, and its history, its progress, and its condition in modern states, 
should be accessible to the students. The hbrary should embrace a wide 
range of science, law, literature, history, philosophy, medicine, etc. The 
library should, therefore, be a noble and comprehensive one. 

"A Museum of Models of Agricultural Implements, domestic and foreign, 
should be preserved. The crude implements of past times, and of other 
countries, and those used by the most benighted toilers of the present age, 
should be collated, side by side with the ingenious, light, and graceful im- 
plements of our own era and country. 

"A Chemical and Philosophical Laboratory, second to but few in the 
country, is already obtained as an indispensal3le aid, even at the very com- 
mencement of the Institution." 

"Cabinets of Natural Science should be collected, and illustrative speci- 
mens of the mineral and vegetable kingdoms, especially of the State of 
Michigan. 

"Specimens of Animals, Birds, Fishes and Insects should be preserved, 
especially of all animals and insects that either destroy our crops or infest 
domestic animals and fowls, that the student may have ample opportunities 
to study their nature and habits, and if possible discover means to arrest 
their ravages, and effect their extirpation. 

"If Agriculture has not become, as it ought to be, a great central Science 
which all other sciences should aid to enlarge and promote, certainly Horti- 
culture deserves to rank as one of the Fine Arts. The Institution will em- 
brace, therefore, a Horticultural Garden. An impressive lesson will con- 
stantly present itself, of how tastefully and attractive a homestead may be 
rendered at a trifling cost. The garden itself will afford living, growing, 
gorgeous illustrations for scientific examination. 

"First and foremost, it is the instrumentaUty by which the students can 
earn a portion of their education, and in the meantime ought to afford a 
perpetual example of what high intelligence in the laborer, obedience to 
natural laws, and the most thrifty culture, will produce. 

"The question spontaneously comes to the lips even of friends, 'What 
Course of Instruction is proposed to improve the farmer?' Here, again, 
details must be conformed to experience. 

"First, we would begin with the farmer himself. It has been aptly said, 



26 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

that the only part of European agriculture that has not been improved, 
is the man himself who tills the soil. Now, there is where we ought to begin. 
The farmer ought first to be a sound man physically. He should be taught 
the laws on which his own life and health depend. He should have capacity 
for thought and action. Morally, physically, intellectually, he must be a 
man before he can be a farmer. 

"Physiology opens a wide field of study to the farmer, for on the observance 
of its laws depend the life, health and growth of all animal and vegetable 
nature. A violation of those laws results in decay and ruin; obedience to 
these meets with sure reward; defiance to those laws is the ill luck of poor 
farmers — observance of them is the good luck of the opposite class. 

''A farmer should receive instruction in the Veterinary Art from competent 
instructors, and when the Institution is brought to something like maturity, 
the farmers of the whole country should be invited to bring their diseased 
animals together, that they and the student may derive reciprocal advantage 
from treatment under skilled hands. 

"Entomology, the Science relating to insects, is worth}^ of the farmer's 
attention. 

"Thus the field of research for the farmer has no boundary. New subjects, 
each in itself sufficient to engross years, constantly crowd upon the attention. 
The difficulty will be only in the selection. Master all human knowledge 
on the subject, and yet the greatest truths remain unfathomed. Do you 
understand any of those influences and affinities by which a plant germinates 
and grows? Do you understand the process by which a single flower blooms? 
Do you understand how the clover, vivified by the genial influences of light 
and heat, gathers from the earth and the air, the rains and the dews, contri- 
butions that make up the growth, and restored to the earth, renovates its 
exhausted condition? These occult mysteries are beyond your comprehension. 

"Nature hugs within her bosom her most vital lessons, undivulged. The 
Newtons and Keplers of Agriculture are yet to appear. The contemplation 
of these facts should awe us to humility. 

"The chief end and object in educating the farmer is to teach him to 
subordinate himself, and all animal and vegetable life around him, to those 
inexorable laws, moral and physical, the violation of which meets with swift 
retribution. 

"A farmer should perpetually bear in mind that one generation of men 
hold the earth in trust for the next. We are all linked indissolubly to the 
past by obligations of gratitude, and to the future by the glowing aspirations 
of hope. Without the recognition by preceding generations of the ties 
of dependence and affiliation, we could pluck no fruit from the orchards 
planted a century ago. 

"A great advantage of such Colleges as this, will be, that the farmer will 
learn to observe, learn to think, learn to learn. The farmer isolated and 
engrossed with labor, feels not the advantage of constant discussion and 
observation. That discouragement will be partially neutralized here. 
Every man who acquires thoroughly even all the information attainable in a 
College like ours, should become a perpetual teacher and example in his 
vicinity. Thus one of the grand results should be a far wider dissemination 
of vital Agricultural Imowledge. 

"I have little fear of ultimate failure. If one Institution of this kind 
should languish, the indications are numerous that the auspicious moment 
will arrive when success will be achieved. Where a great need is felt and 
appreciated simultaneously over a great country, it is merely a question of 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 27 

time when it shall be successfully met. But there must be a tolerant and 
hearty co-operation of the people of the State and its functionaries, of the 
successive students, and of the officers of government and instruction, to 
whom so sacred a trust is confided. 

"As to this youthful State belongs the honor of establishing the pioneer 
State Institution of the kind, and initiating what may prove one of the 
significant movements of the age, may she enjoy the glory of its complete 
and ultimate triumph." (6) 

Kinsley S. Bingham, Governor of the State, followed with a brief address. 
I quote a few paragraphs: 

"The people of the State of Michigan have acquired honorable distinction 
for their zeal and success in the cause of Education. 

"Yet, notwithstanding the system of education seemed so complete, a 
deep-seated and universal feeling prevailed throughout the State, that the 
great staple, Agricultural Interest, was neglected; that while Professorships 
had been very properly established to teach Astronomy, Civil Engineering, 
Medicine and Law, we needed a school expressly adapted for the farmers' 
sons, to teach the ennobling science of Agriculture. This prevaihng senti- 
ment prompted the Convention of 1850, for the revision of the Constitution, 
to engraft upon that instrument a provision that, as soon as practicable, 
the Legislature shall provide for the establishment of an Agricultural School. 
Gentlemen, if this experiment (for such we must admit it at present to be) 
shall prove successful, Michigan, first in many other matters of progress 
and improvement, will be justly entitled to the high honor of having first 
established a College to teach the theory and practice of Agriculture. This 
interesting event, then, inspiring us with hopes of promise for the future, 
is cause for mutual congratulation. 

"Formerly, farming was considered a business requiring mere physical 
power, with which the principles of natural science had little or nothing 
to do. To plow, to sow, and to gather the crop, was the general routine of 
farming operations, regardless of the poverty which the practice was inflicting 
upon the soil and upon those who owned it. 

"Thus, with the liveliest anticipations, and highest hopes of success, 
we Avelcome, the FREE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE among the institu- 
tions of learning of the State of Michigan, and bid it God speed. Long may 
it flourish, an honor to its founders, and an honor to the State." (6) 

James H. Gunnison, who owns a farm near Dewitt and now lives at 513 
Butler St., Lansing, tells how his father hitched up a team and brought 
five of the boys over to the dedication exercises. He and his brothers, 
Alfred and Warren, were students of the first class entering college. The 
faces of President Williams, Governor Bingham, Professor Fisk, Professors 
Weeks and Goadby and Professor Calvin Tracy are still in his memory. 
There were but three buildings set among the trees and surrounded by 
huckleberry bushes. These were College Hall, "Saints Rest" and a brick 
barn. The studies taught were hterature, mathematics and chemistry. 
The agriculture was all practical work. Mr. Gunnison drove an ox team. 

THE COLLEGE AND THE STUDENTS, 1857-1860. 

The following is a very liberal quotation from an address given at the 
semi-centennial celebration of the Agricultural College, by Hon. Charles 
Jay Monroe, who was present at the dedication in 1857 and remained a 
student until 1860. In 1895 he became a member of the State Board of 
Agriculture and for some time was the president of the board. 



28 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The address is a vivid account of the experience and observation of an 
active student: 

"The College, when I first saw it May 10, 1857, consisted of a tract of 
mainly timber land without an acre fully cleared. A few acres had been 
slashed down and the logs and brush cleared. On every hand were old 
stubs and partially burned trees. The fire had scorched the timber next 
to the clearing, so that at every point of the compass to which you turned 
you beheld dead and blackened trees which presented a most desolate scene. 

"College Hall, a dormitory, and a small brick barn constituted the buildings. 
The old dormitory, known for manj^ years as "Saints' Rest," stood a little 
east of the present site of Williams Hall, and was burned in 1876. These 
buildings were surrounded by logs and stumps, the carpenters' and masons' 
leavings, and other rubbish. The roads to the buildings were lined with 
stumps which had been dug or pulled out and in some cases partially burned. 

"The road from the College to lower Lansing was fairly good, judged by 
the road standard of those days. Lansing consisted of three parts. Upper, 
Middle, and Lower, and the distances and partition woods between them 
were sufficient to make them distinct towns. 

"The travel to the College was mainly from Middle Lansing, via Michigan 
Avenue, This street was usually a mud hole from the hotels to the College, 
particularly in the spring and fall, and was lined with timber except now 
^nd then a small opening made by new settlers. In this connection I wish 
to call attention to the large stone beside the road with a fair-sized tree 
seemingh^ growing through it. As I remember it, the crack was then small 
and only partly across the stone, and the tree was about the size of a finger. 
It was the frequent resting place on the trips to and from Lansing. 

"Lansing had no railroads. The nearest were the Detroit and Milwaukee 
at St. Johns, and the Michigan Central at Jackson. Most of the boys came 
by these routes. From Jackson to Eaton Rapids there was a plank road, 
but it had so many broken or missing planks that for a good deal of the way 
the square edges of the plank made it worse than the round legs of a cordu- 
roy. From Eaton Rapids to Lansing it was mainly mud holes. We regarded 
ourselves as fortunate if we got our trunks through, even by carrying a pole 
or rail for considerable distances to pry the old stage out of mud holes. 

"It is fair to state that the vacations in those days were in the spring 
and fall, and so at the seasons of the year when the roads were at their worst. 

"The dedication exercises were held May 13, 1857, in the college room 
usually known as the chapel. This room has been the general meeting-place 
for all sorts of gatherings for fifty years. At the dedication it was crowded 
to its limit, and many stood about the doors, both inside and out. With 
two others I stood in the south center window, the platform being on the 
north, or opposite, side. 

"The next day we again assembled, and all who had passed were assigned 
rooms. There were four students to each room, to do their own chamber 
work. Within a day or two we were again called to the chapel by the presi- 
dent. He stated that for the present he wished to assign the work as far as 
possible to those familiar with the work designated. A show of hands were 
asked, for those accustomed to driving horses. Probably four-fifths re- 
sponded. After a few questions, the teamsters were chosen. Next, those 
familiar with oxen, a less number, responded. I was named to drive one 
yoke. The call was continued until nearly all the different sorts of work 
were mentioned and someone of those lifting the hand would be designated. 

"The first work, in which nearly all took part, was cleaning up the carpen- 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 29 

ters', painters', masons', and plumbers' rubbish, and clearing away the logs 
and brush near the buildings. As for myself, I continued to drive the 
oxen through the summer of 1857, mainly on the stump machine. In the 
summer of 1858 I drove the same team as a logging team, and they were 
extra. 

''Visitors coming to the logging field who were familiar with that sort of 
work were sure to notice and admire the team. Those remembering back to 
the days when clearing and logging were a prominent part of the work in 
Michigan will realize that a good logging team was highly valued, and their 
ability to make a log snap was often praised. 

"I recall an incident which occured at a near neighbor's. A Mr. Seaver 
had an extra yoke of oxen of which he was very proud. As I was passing the 
field with several friends where he was logging, one of the party expressed 
the wish to drive out and see the men roll up a log heap. I introduced my 
friends and stated they would like to see a heap made; I also remarked that 
I was sure they would like to see his oxen draw the logs. He hitched to a 
long one and waved to everybody to keep away from the switch end, then 
sprang toward the oxen with raised whip, calling out, 'Haw, Buck.' This 
brought the oxen toward him and he, dancing back to keep out of their way, 
stammered out, 'I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon, Buck, I meant. Gee.' 

"In the winter of 1857 and 1858 chopping was the principal work. Over 
a hundred acres on the south side of the river was slashed into windrows and 
burned the following summer. We worked in three divisions, two and one- 
half hours each— first, 7 to 9:30; second, 9:30 to 12; third, 1:30 to 4. The 
second was expected to be out in time to take the tools of the first, the rule 
l)eing that the same boys should follow each other in the use of the ax. 

"Word was received that a bee tree had been found and that the boys of 
division number one were having a treat of honey. The boys of number two 
abandoned the usual custom of marching in Indian style of single file and 
struck a double quick for the scene of feasting. The bridge was a large 
fallen tree reaching from bank to bank. Ordinarily it was adequate, but on 
this occasion when the whole squad were having a neck- and neck-race and 
all were wanting to cross at the same time, it resulted in several taking a 
forced bath before the coveted feast. Arriving at the scene, a pitched battle 
occurred which discounted a college rush. Besides, the bright sun warmed 
up the bees, and they with natural patriotism sought in a very stinging 
manner to defend their home and honey. They inflicted a good many 
wounds which soon became prominent and remained so for several days. 
Like all great battles the sad scenes came afterward. 

"In 1858, the most notable and impressive event of the season was the 
fever and ague. The plowing and stirring of a hundred acres or more of new 
land with all its decaying vegetation turned loose an immense amount of 
miasma. The remark often made, 'that it was thick enough to cut with a 
case knife,' had much truth in it. In the latter part of August and fore part 
of September there were 70 out of 100 students unable to attend classes, at 
least they could come only every other day, as the fever was mainly inter- 
mittent. That is, one day the patient felt as well as ever, and the next, 
never felt worse. The main consolation the sufferer got was the frequent 
assurance that it was only the ague and nobody ever died from it. Classes 
were greatly interrupted and in some cases suspended for a short time. 

"As the work of the four previous terms had been mainly such as I had 
been accustomed to in the childhood home — it being heavy timber and the 
clearings commenced about the time I was born— I got little that was new or 



30 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

helpful, except as the continued doing of any task makes one more expert in 
it. But the work, experience, and observation which I had in the summer 
term of 1859, which included the gathering, labeling, and arranging of seeds, 
I have felt were of great advantage to me, for which I have always been 
grateful. 

"The Tem Sem,' a short name for the Michigan Female Seminary at 
Lansing was in charge of the Rogers Sisters. There was some visiting with 
the girls at their college during the summer of 1858, possibly started and en- 
couraged by the fact that Professor Tracy, in whose charge the over-seeing of 
the boys princii3ally was, was in the habit of visiting one of the seminary 
teachers, to whom he was subsequently married. The mutual interest and 
visiting between the two colleges were greatly increased in October, 1858, 
when the M. A. C. boys were invited to a husking bee at the 'Fem. Sem.' 
A field of several acres of corn, as I remember, was standing in the shock 
just east of the buildings, now used for the School for the Blind. The night 
was lighted by one of those brilliant harvest moons and also by the smiling 
faces of the 'Fem Sem' students who acted as partners in the husking. 
The number of red ears found was quite remarkable, in fact so many and so 
well scattered over the field were they that they occasioned a good deal of 
querying, some declaring that the planter must have had fore-knowledge as 
to the future huskers. When the corn was all husked and picked up, and 
the stalks bound and set up, we were treated to a bountiful lunch and then 
to a jolly social time, not soon to be forgotten. We were allowed to linger 
into the small hours, probably on account of the good work done. 

"Our sports were mainly of the country sort, 'one' and 'two-old-cat' 
ball games, running, hop-step-and-jump, 'pom-pom pull-away,' tag, and 
leapfrog. Some of them were not very dignified ; still there were no smashed 
noses, cracked heads, maimed limbs, nor any kiUing. 

"The College was a typical Michigan pioneer in starting in the woods, 
in opening up roads, in logging and burning green timber, much of it in the 
wet season of the year, in the pulling of green stumps, and in ditching where 
an ax was as important as the spade or a shovel. It was hard work for the 
boys and expensive for the College. I recall one large oak stump with a 
large tap root and a mass of others needed to sustain the tall sturdy tree, 
cut from it. It was only a few feet from the front door of the boarding-hall. 
Digging away the dirt and cutting off the roots required about ten days' 
work. Then it took the stump machine to roll it out and two yoke of oxen 
and four span of horses a half-day to draw it to the river bank near the 
president's house, costing about $20." 

Concerning the college in its primitive period, I continue by quoting 
from Oscar Clute '62, the State Agricultural College, in circular of information. 
No. 4, 1891, Bureau of Education, p. 105. 

"From the first the instruction in the college classes was of a high 
order. Calvin Tracy had a clear and incisive method as a teacher. L. R. 
Fisk, now and for many recent years the successful and honored president 
of Albion College, was then a young man, energetic and enthusiastic in 
his work as chemist. Professor Weeks and Mr. Banker gave able help. 
At the beginning of the second year came T. C. Abbot from the principalship 
of the High Union School in Ann Arbor. The students came largely from 
the farms and villages, though representatives from the cities were by no 
means wanting. They were about like all students, having the usual amount 
of boy nature; rooming four in a room in one small dormitory; meeting all 
winter in the chapel at 5:30 in the morning for prayers; reciting in company 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 31 

in the few classes that at first were formed; swinging the ax side by side in 
felling the great oaks and beeches that stood thick all over the college farm; 
watching in eagerness the lapping fire leap through the dry leaves and branches 
when the match was put to the fallow; laughing with the unquenchable 
jollity of youth at the grime and blackness that transformed their boyish 
faces into something strange if not rich as they hauled together the blackened 
logs after the first burning; Avorking in gangs with the stump machine to 
pull the stumps that frustrated the first feeble attempts at farming; shut 
off l\y location from almost all association except that of the college itself; 
taking long walks together through the woods, where the ghostly beech-drops 
and the shoAvy orchis grew; and to the not distant swamps, where the feet 
sink out of sight in the deep sphagnum; and the delicate gold thread, and 
the mysterious sun dew, and the flaunting blooms of the pitcher plant, and 
the softer beauty of the splendid lady's slipper soon filled their botany boxes 
with richest treasure. What wonder that there grcAV up among the boys a 
warm fellowship with each other and with honored professors, and a strong 
and loving appreciation of the school that, in the very limitations of its 
first beginnings, offered to them better conditions for the acquirement of 
culture and character than mere lectures, libraries and laboratories can 
give." 

Concerning the early days, I quote briefly Hon. Edwin Willets in his 
inaugural address in 1885, as President of the College: (See Report, 
Michigan Board of Agriculture, 1885, p. 24.) 

"It was a pioneer institution in the literal sense; not only was it the first 
of its kind, but it began at the stump, so to speak. The first tools needed 
were an ax to fell a tree and a spade to dig a well. It has gone through all 
the stages of pioneer life; it has had its corduroy roads, its chills and fevers, 
chills predominating; it was almost a generation 'getting out of the woods;' 
so that its primal energies were in a sense wasted in suljduing a farm, in 
taking a large tract of land in a state of nature and fitting i to become a 
'model farm' instead of taking improved land all ready for experiment." 

Some idea of the progress of the college during its first year may be had 
from the first report of President Williams, dated at Lansing, April 1, 1858, 
printed on page 313-324, Michigan School Report for 1857. 

"For twenty-five vacancies, more or less, which will exist at that time, 
we find on our files about two hundred applications, and letters of inquiry, 
with a view to entering the institution. Many of the applicants are from 
other states. Inasmuch as we are limited in accomodations, the vacant 
places, in accordance with the requisitions of the law, will be distributed 
to such qualified applicants as appear from counties not represented. 

"Amid these difficulties it became necessary to organize an Institution 
on a new basis, and to harmonize a System of Study with a System of Labor. 
"About sixty acres of the farm have been brought under cultivation. 
Al^out eighty acres more will be cleared for crops this spring. It has been 
our policy to clear and prepare the land for crops, as we proceed, much more 
thoroughly than is usually done on new farms, in order to have it in readiness 
at the earliest possible day, for varied and interesting modes of culture, 
for trial of improved implements, and for comparison of varieties of seeds 
and breeds of cattle. 

"For summer crops we had an abundance of potatoes of the finest de- 
scription, sufficient for use of the Institution, and seed the present season, 
turnips, vegetables, and a few acres of corn and Chinese sugar cane, the 
latter planted late for fodder only. There were no failures in these crops. 



32 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



''The brute working force consists of two pair of horses and six pair of 
oxen, all sound, in good health, and excellent condition for effective service 
during the coming season. We have also seven cows upon the farm. 

"The Institution is well provided with necessary ploughs, harrows, wagons, 
carts, sleds, axes, shovels, and horticultural implements. 

"No land being in a fit state of preparation, orchards were not commenced 
during the last season. An extensive farm orchard designed for raising 
apples for market, will be immediately commenced, and also a separate 
orchard designed especially to supply the wants of the Institution. 

"The books are principally Agricultural, but in that department it is 
scantily supplied. In the miscellaneous department it is lean and insufficient. 
It consists of donations from the State Agricultural Society, from the de- 
partments at Washington, and from a few public spirited individuals and 




Looking north. Dwelling built in 18.57, the porch was added much later; now 1913, occupied 
by Dean Bissell. Faculty row No. 4. 



publishers. In response to a circular addressed to the publishers, twenty- 
eight Agricultural periodicals, from all parts of the United States, have been- 
gratuitously furnished the library and reading room. 

"Several of the students are skilled in the use of tools, and during the 
last winter, unaided, erected a bridge on the estate, across the Cedar River. 

"During 1857, four dwelling houses for use of the President and Professors 
have been erected. A small wooden farm house, purchased with the land, 
has been re-built and prepared for occupation. The main College building 
has l)een re-roofed and the interior of the same reconstructed. New and 
sufficient appliances for cooking with steam have been introduced into the 
Boarding House, and an unfinished stable completed. 

"The work before us, was no less than the successful organization and 
establishment of the first Agricultural College on the continent. That work 
is accomphshed. Indecision, hesitation or division of the funds by your 
Board would have so interrupted as to break down and destroy the Institution. 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 



33 



"Such is the condition of the Institution at the commencement of the 
Second year, and the Third Term of its history. These brief details fail, 
perhaps, to answer the questions most vital and interesting. 

"A Bill has just passed the Legislature of the youthful state of Iowa, 
creating an Agricultural College. This is the Second State Institution of 
the kind in the United States. Agricultural Colleges, the joint work of 
individual subscribers, and the respective Legislatures, are in a State of 
progress, and will probably all be set in operation during the next eighteen 
months, in the States of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland. 

"The experiment in which we are engaged is not therefore tested for 
Michigan alone, but for the Agricultural population of the whole Union. 
The State is everywhere lauded as exhibiting a bold and comprehensive 
Statesmanship in the establishment of this college, and the public press, as 
well as a wide correspondence, statesmen on the one hand, and iUiterate, 




Looking north. Dwelling built in 1857, kitchen and porch added much later; now, 1913, occupied 
by Dean Shaw. Faculty row No. 5. 



strongminded citizens on the other who equally well however comprehend its 
necessity and its mission, express their cordial sympathy in its prosperity. 

"The first palpable and valuable result, so far, is successfully harmonizing 
a System of Labor with a System of Study. This is vital. A paramount 
object is, to enable the student to support himself by his own labor, while 
acquiring his education. At the same time, it is necessary to make that 
labor attractive and invigorating. 

"It was a danger(jus experiment to establish such an Institution on any 
farm not already, in part, at least, capable of the highest cultivation, and 
ready to yield the maximum of production under intelligent culture. 

"In conclusion I may add, that the Institution should be good enough for 
the proudest and cheap enough for the poorest." 

For December 1, 1858, Report of the Superintendent of Pubhc Instruction, 
at the close of the 2nd year, Pres. J. R. Wilhams' report contains the following: 

"A Veterinary Professorship is fundamental to the very idea of an 
Agricultural college. 
5 



34 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



"A large number of students were compelled to Icave^thc institution in 
consequence of sickness, and many who remained were invalids. At one 
time, but about thirty were in the field, and as each was employed but three 
hours, they were not equal to eight able-bodied men. The discouragement 
was almost equally severe for several weeks, and extended with more or 
less severity over a period of three months. 

"During the summer one hundred acres of heavy timbered land have 
been logged and cleared. Stumps have been extracted, mostly by WiUis's 
Stump Machine, from eighteen acres of land. One mile and a half of tile 
drain has been laid, some of it through quick sands, and through places 
presenting formidable ol^stacles to drainage. Students did not shrink even 
from this labor. Land where the water had stood from time immemorial at 
depths varying from one to three feet on the surface, is now Ijrought under 
cultivation, and produced good crops of corn and turnips the past season. 




Looking north. Dwelling built in 1857, later enlarged, still later partially burnt-d and rebuilt; 
in 1913 occupied by the Professor of English. Faculty row No. 0. 



"The Institution has met with serious calamaties. There is a great 
misapprehension, however, in the public mind relative to its cost. Of the 
aggregate cost of $109,792.73, at which it will stand in January next, 
$56,320.00 has been or will be derived from the Salt Spring Lands, which 
cost the people of Michigan nothing. It is a significant fact that for three 
miles from the college, in every direction, land has risen in value varying 
from ten percent to one hundred percent. 

"The law creating the Institution does not empower the faculty to confer 
degrees. [That power came in 186L] 

"The last Legislature reserved the Swamp Lands in the four adjacent 
town-ships for the use of the college. They embrace 6961 acres. Certainly 
at that time the ideas for conducting and supporting an Agricultural College 
were very crude. 

"In their last annual report, the Board recommended that the care of 
the college be transferred to a State Board of Agriculture, believing that 
such a Board might win for the Institution a fuller sympathy and support of 
the farming population, and also to be able to devote more special attention 
to its interest. 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 



35 



"In teaching Agriculture the Board would also suggest whether there 
might not be established a lecture term, to be held in the winter, in which 
courses of study should l)e given by the several Profes ors, on the topics of 
their department. Large numbers of farmers would find leisure in the 
winter to attend a course of lectures on farming. Antl while the college was 
thus extending its usefulness, it would be attracting many students who 
might conclude to pursue its full course of studies." 

I quote C. A. Kenaston, acting secretary in 1863. 

"But President Williams began work so new, and so difficult in itself, 
and made so much more difficult by the many limitations which hedgecl 
in the early days of a college established in the woods, that troubles soon 




Looking west. 



Dwelling built in lSo7; the porch added much later; now, 1913, occupied by the 
Professor of Botany. Faculty row No. 7. 



arose. They culminated in his resignation in March 1859, when he had 
been president of the college less than two years." 

Several references are made elsewhere concerning the administration 
of President Williams. 

"The chief fault of the Institution was the lack of practical instruction 
in agriculture. The Board knew not where to find a man for this work. 

"These two years were years of severe trial to the Institution. No service 
more pure and unceasing could be rendered, than was given to the interests 
of the Institution by its President, but Mr. Williams had been in political 
life, and the College was made at once the object of bitter party feeling. The 
buildings had been insecurely made, and large outlays were demanded to 



36 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

render them trustworthy. A wet spring and severe drought afterwards 
caused meagre crops. Articles of every kind were unusually high during 
the building and furnishing at the College so that at the end of two years 
the original grant of 156,320, and an appropriation of $40,000 had been 
spent, and an additional debt incurred of $13,472.73." 

The college was just beginning and had no professor of agriculture. 
Some flat turnips were to be grown in a spot where long since Howard 
Terrace and the Woman's Building were erected. Oscar Palmer, a student, 
was told to sow the seed. He came to the college unacquainted with farm 
work. When asked how much seed to sow. President Williams evaded the 
answer by "paddling around it." The seeds were sown a half bushel to the 
acre, more or less, and they came up thick, very thick, and failed to spread 
at the bottom as well grown turnips ought to. The turnips were narrow 
and slim at the expense of broad diameters. They couldn't grow in any 
other direction. It was up and down or nothing. The patch was in sight 
of the highway where farmers could see it and make comments. For this 
act the college received a lot of left-hand advertising and gained a lasting 
reputation. Twenty years after this famous crop of turnips was grown a 
student in a remote part of the country while teaching a winter school was 
told this story to illustrate the fact that the professors at the college didn't 
know anything about farming. 

One day when this same boy, Oscar Palmer, was sent to the field with the 
oxen to pull stumps, the oxen would "gee" when he wanted them to "haw." 
Picking up a board, he applied it with vigor to them, and they, like sensible 
brutes, ran away. This short experience satisfied him that the farm was not 
the place for him. He soon left. 

The Hon. Oscar Palmer was long afterward chairman of the house 
committee on the Agricultural College and later a member of the State 
Board of Agriculture. 

A pear orchard was planted in a hollow instead of on a hill, the designer 
thinking that to be the best way, and consequently during the first severe 
winter the lake of cold air killed most of the trees. 

One of President Williams daughters referred the writer to Albert E. 
Macomber a student at M. A. C. in 1857-59. He is an attorney of Toledo, 
Ohio, and was intimate with the family. This is his letter: "I am glad to 
hear from you again, and doubly glad to learn that you are engaged in pre- 
paring a History of the Michigan Agricultural College. 

"I think no History of the Michigan Agricultural College will be complete 
which does not recognize and give due credit to his [President Williams] 
services to that institution and to the cause of agricultural education. 

"In my judgment he was the creator of that school in Michigan, and 
possibly more than any other one man is entitled to the credit of the Morrill 
Bill of 1857. He was the member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850, 
and secured the Section making it mandatory upon the legislature to act. 
He followed the matter up in 1855 in the legislature of that year, and in 1861, 
as a member of the senate, secured the reorganization of the school on a 
larger and more promising basis. 

"His address, at the opening of the Michigan School and his eloquent ad- 
dress the same year before the State Agricultural Society of New York, were 
leading campaign documents. He spent a part of the winter of 1857-8 in 
Washington, laboring incessantly with members of congress for the passage 
of the Morrill Bill; and in my judgment, furnished a good part of the material 
of Representative Morrill's speech, made on the introduction of that Bill 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 37 

in the House of Representatives. This speech was full and elaborate, and 
as the Congressional Record shows was the only carefully prepared speech 
made at any time in either House on that question. As Editor of the Toledo 
Blade he had acquired great influence in building up the Republican Part}^ 
and his influence and acquaintance was very wide. 

"You mention that President Williams ran over the appropriation — got 
discouraged — expected to be elected to the United States Senate. The 
facts are, that the limited funds, the want of intelligent support by the state 
Board of Education, and the appointment of certain teachers, such as Fisk, 
Tracy, Bancker, not one of whom had the remotest conception of the scope 
and purpose of the school — ^were enough to discourage any man. But 
President Williams was not discouraged; his faith and prophetic vision 
were too great for that. He decided not to further wrestle with such men. 
Another line of action was adopted; he resigned and returned to his former 
home county, St. Joseph, (in Constantine he had been the proprietor of a 
large flouring mill) where he was held in the greatest esteem and on the tip 
was promptly nominated and elected to the State Senate.) 

"He secured the Act of March 15th, 1861, entitled — 'An Act to Reorganize 
the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, and to Establish a State 
Board of Agriculture.' The Act provided for the first Board, designating 
six faithful men. 

"Then came the War and his untimely death in June following. This 
explains the historic break — the four long years of war — engaging all atten- 
tion — new men to the front, and the old in part forgotten. I hope you 
will make good this omitted chapter. It wall be an important part of your 
history, and Michigan is entitled to the credit of the pioneer work which 
led to the Morrill Bill of 1857, and to its final passage in 1862. 

"I may add that Horace Greeley was a warm personal friend of President 
Williams; Greeley wrote to him 'I would sooner be President of the first 
State Agricultural College than to be President of the United States.' If 
you have access to files of the New York Tribune, 1857, and 1858, you will 
find, I am sure, some material." 

Mr. Macomber continues — "Next to the abolition of slavery, this college 
land grant act is held by many as the most important and far reaching measure 
of his (Lincoln's) administration. Signed, July 2, 1862. 

"The Michigan School of Agriculture, for so it was modestly designated in 
the state constitution and in the early legislation, rested at its start upon 
the proceeds of the sale of twenty sections of what was known as salt spring 
lands under the legislation of 1855 and in obedience to the authority and 
direction of the constitution of 1850. In 1853 the legislature petitioned 
congress for an appropriation of public lands for a school of agriculture, 
but the request was not granted. Again in 1858 the State Board of Educa- 
tion, conjointly with the faculty of the school, made a like petition to con- 
gress for the same purpose and sanctioned by the legislature. 

"It is not too much to say that the constant pressure brought to bear by 
Michigan upon congress, led to the introduction of the Morrill bill in Decem- 
ber, 1857, and its approval in 1859. (It was promptly vetoed by President 
Buchanan.) This pressure upon congress was made more effective b}^ an 
appeal to leading men in agriculture and broad minded statesmen throughout 
the country to sustain so important a measure. What was at first a local 
experiment and a state measure evolved into a national policy approved 
in 1862 by both houses of congress and by the president of the United States. 

"The Civil War and the grave questions which followed, delayed action 



38 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

under this law in many states for several years; but later the whole countrj^ 
awoke to the importance of the measure and the several states have vied 
with each other in liberal tax levies to supplement the national endowment." 
Mr. Macomber sends a copy of a circular prepared by President Williams 
and sent out by hundreds, the mailing ]:)eing done by Macomber himself 
and C. J. Monroe, both of whom were, at that time, students of the College. 
I extract notes: 

"Agricultural College, 

Lansing, Mich. Jan. 11, 1858. 

''Editors Cincinnati Gazette: — You have doubtless noticed that sundry 
memorials have been presented to Congress asking grants of land for the 
purpose of establishing Agricultural Colleges in the several states of the 
Union. This Institution has asked a grant on its own merits. Mr. Morrill's 
Bill giving for each Presidential elector, to a State, 20,000 acres of land, is 
referred to the Committee of public lands in the House. There seems to 
have been a simultaneous movement towards this object throughout the 
country, and I understand that earnest recommendations will be passed upon 
the subject, by the United States Agricultural Societj'' at their annual meeting 
at Washington, the present week. * * * * 

"It has become the settled policy of the Government, to grant lands for 
Educational purposes. 

"Some men may imagine that these institutions are novel. So far from it, 
there are about 500 Colleges, Schools and Model Farms now existing in 
Europe, and in successful operation Ours, I believe, is the first State 
Institution of the kind in America, but New York, Pennsylvania and Mary- 
land have all organized Colleges of the kind. In Virginia, South Carolina, 
Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin, desperate efforts are being made to establish 
them. But in order to prove successful, they must have some reliable 
endowment. They must be rendered independent of the caprice or pre- 
judices or ignorance of doubters. They must be independent, so that they 
can go on boldly and strongly. All such institutions, starting out on a 
career, will have enemies without and within. Neither the State, nor public 
individuals will permanently sustain them. Demagogues in local legislatures 
will always be attacking them. 

"I have no doubt a bill would pass this very session of Congress, if the 
friends of the measure would give it earnest support. Cannot you advise 
your readers to send memorials promptly to Congress, in favor of a grant? 
It need only be brief. I enclose a form. Now if you would print it, call 
attention to it, and ask county societies and citizens to sign it and forward 
it to their respective Representatives or Senators in Congress, you would 
afford great aid. No time is to be lost. 

"I remain, with great respect. 
Yours &c., &c., 
JOS. R. WILLIAMS, President, 
Michigan State Agricultural College." 

The Southern Farmer, Va., and the Scientific Artisan, Cincinnati, Ohio, 
speaking of the agricultural college bill, remark: 

"The Hon. J. R. Williams, President of the Agricultural College of 
Michigan which is now in successful operation, is an able and zealous advocate 
in the cause of agricultural education, and no man has done more, or as 
much, to promote the passage of the law. 



PRESIDENT WILLIAMS' ADMINISTRATION. 39 

"Not a few Senators and Representatives in Washington, last winter, 
voted for the Agricultural College Bill, because of instructions received 
from their constituents, who were aroused to the necessity of doing so, 
by the efforts of President Williams — The elaborate speech of Mr. Morrill, 
in Congress, winter before last, was prepared principally from information 
derived from him, and a large portion of the support which that bill 
received, was rallied by his efforts. Even the Bill, itself, was matured and 
revised at his suggestions." 

President Williams suffered from asthma nearly all his life. His whole 
life was a struggle against poor health compelling him to give up one pursuit 
after another. He engaged in no Imsiness after leaving the college. He 
died at Toledo, June 15, 1861, when about fifty-three years of age. Not 
only his earnest preliminary work but his service for two years as president 
of the college establishes the reputation of President Williams as a remarkable 
man. At this point, the reader may well read his brief biography on another 
page. 

Elsewhere in this volume, several references are made to Michigan Agri- 
cultural College as early in the field of progress. Although chemistry is often 
spoken of as an old science, not until 1858 did chemistry at Harvard occupy 
a respectable place on the first floor of a fine building. The same year 
witnessed the first class in analytical chemistry at the University of Michigan. 
Professor L. B. Fisk, of the Michigan Agricultural College antedated l)oth 
Harvard and the University of Michigan by one year in teaching chemistry 
as a part of a regular course of study. Upon the resignation of President 
Williams, Professor Fisk was chosen to direct the affairs of the college. 
The story of his administration is told in Chapter HI. 



40 



tllSTOilt OP MIOHmAN AORlCULfURAL COLLEGE, 



CHAPTER III. 

ACTING PRESIDENT FISk's ADMINISTRATION. 

1859—1862. 

In the year 1859 the College was at a low ebb. In the spring the Honorable 
J. R. Williams resigned the presidency. The appropriation made l)y the 
legislature for the support of the College having to be paid from taxes which 
would not be receivetl till February or March of 1860, the Board found them- 
selves compelled to reduce the expenditures to the lowest amount consistent 




LOUIS RANSOM FISK. 

with meeting the merest current expenses, and the pressing indebtedness. For 
this reason, among others, the presidency was left vacant; and while Professor 
L. R. Fisk was elected by the faculty as president pro tempore of that body, 
R. F. Johnstone, Esq., the editor of the Michigan Farmer, was employed to 
take charge of the farm operations for the year. No improvements were 
undertaken but such as might be carried on with the students' labor on the 
farm, and the erection of some temporary structures for immediate neces- 
sities. The Board steadily bent their efforts to the extinguishment of the 
debt and the introduction of the closest economy into all the affairs of the 
College. 



ACTING PRESIDENT FISK'S ADMINISTRATION. 41 

Near the close of the college year the Board of Education resolved to 
remodel somewhat the organization and courses of instruction. 

"The changes contemplated/' said the Honorable John M. Gregory (later 
president of the University of Illinois) in his report for 1859, as Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, ''are such as will make the Institution more 
purely a professional school, so that is shall be sought not by those who merely 
Avish a general education, but by those who desire to fit themselves for prac- 
tical and scientific agriculturists. It was considered that the institution 
was designed not merely for farmers' sons, but for all who wished to become 
good and intelligent farmers." 

The departments of instruction, under this new plan, were organized as 
follows : 

1. The Department of Agricultural Chemistry. 

2. The Department of Botany and Vegetable Physiology. 

3. The Department of Zoology and Animal Physiology. 

4. The Department of Civil and Rural Engineering. 

5. The Department of Theory and Practice of Agriculture. 

The Department of Agriculture was placed under the charge of the presi- 
dent of the College, who was given the general management of both the 
farm and school. This department was expected to exhibit the practical 
application of the principles and truths taught by the other departments. 

"Like the medical student," said Superintendent Gregory in his report, 
"the young agriculturist will have learned from the proper professors all 
the facts and principles involved in his practice, and like the medical student 
he needs only the 'clinical course' — the actual application in the field and 
garden — to perfect him for his work. It is this part especially that the 
president, with his assistant, in practical departments, will give. 

"To aid the president in the practical work and instruction of the College 
there will be a foreman or superintendent of the farm, and a foreman or 
superintendent of horticulture. In future years these officers may be 
supplied from the graduates of the College. 

"The time to be occupied in the course is fixed at two years. On con- 
sultation with the most distinguished and intelligent Agriculturists in our 
own and Eastern States, it is concluded that while a longer period might be 
profitably spent in the study of agricultural science and the practice of 
agricultural arts, just as the student of medicine might profitably spend a 
much longer time than he is now required to do, in studying medical science 
and in hospital practice, yet the student may in two years acquire such a 
knowledge of agriculture as to undertake successfully the management of a 
farm; and that two years is as much as students will in general consent, in 
this country, to spend in mere professional training. It is to be remembered 
that the student's education is not in this, any more than in medicine or law, 
to end with the course of study in the school." 

In making its report for 1859 the Board of Education recommended that 
the College be placed under a special board of trustees, a State Board of 
Agriculture, chosen more especially from the agriculturists of the state, 
thus enlisting more fully the sympathy of the agricultural population. This 
suggestion was afterwards adopted. In concluding, the Board said: 

"The success of this Institution is of vast importance to the State, and 
to the agriculture of the whole country. Its triumph will introduce a new 
era of agriculture, and give civilization itself a new and grander impulse." 

Professor Fisk, in assuming the duties of the presidency, understood well 



42 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

the difficulties which the College was facing. He gives an interesting picture 
of the problems which the new form of education had to meet in these early- 
years, in his report for 1859. 

''The novelty of Agricultural Colleges renders it almost certain that the 
Michigan Agricultural College should be for some time in a transition state. 

"Certain great questions of education now divide the public mind even 
within the walls of our long-established institutions of learning. 

"In the development of this Institution, peculiar obstacles have impeded 
our progress. 

"The location was an unfortunate one. The College needed, at its very 
opening, an improved farm. It needed such a farm in order to commence 
immediately a system of experiments. 

"It needed an improved farm, that the income from the same should at 
least equal the cost of tillage. 

"It needed an improved farm, to furnish the means, l)y direct illustrations, 
of making our agricultural instruction practical. 

"It needed an improved farm more especially at first, while so many 
prejudices were cherished against it, and so many suspicions of its inutility 
were entertained, that it might have a fair chance of trial before the people 
of the State. 

"It needed an improved farm that the great l)ulk of work should not be 
repulsive to the students, and hence jiroduce discontent and alienation. 

"The Agricultural College has been unfortunate in finding itself in pos- 
session of buildings which, because of fraud on the part of those who had 
contracted to erect the same, are very imperfect, and which have rendered 
a large outlay of means, for repairs, indispensable. 

"Thus it will be seen that we have had much cause for discouragement. 
In the term which is now drawing to a close, we think we see many evidences 
of advancement. 

"Considering all the circumstances amid which we have lal)ored during 
the summer, the degree of success which the Institution has met, cannot 
fail to be gratifying to its friends. 

"In addition to all of this, there was no one invested with permanent 
responsibility as an Executive officer, and the system of the College was in 
a transition state. 

"There are at present 213 acres of the College farm under improvement, 
but of course not thoroughly subdued. Twenty-eight acres more have 
been chopped and burned over, and are now ready to be logged. 

"I cannot forbear to make honorable mention of the very valuable ser- 
vices in the Horticultural Department, of Mr. A. N. Prentiss, a member 
of the present Sophomore class. 

"The furnaces placed in the basement of the College building perform 
their office very poorly; also, from their imperfection, they are very insecure. 
I ask your attention to them. 

"The boarding-house is hardly in a tenantable condition. The roof should 
be immediately repaired, provided a new roof be not substituted for the 
old one. 

"There seems to be as yet some apprehension in the minds of many in 
regard to the present real character of the Institution, and the direction 
which its officers seek to give to its affairs, together with a difference of 
opinion as to the course which should b(> jnu'sued in the future. This whole 
subject demands a very careful consideration. The objects of the College, 



ACTING PRESIDENT FISK'S ADMINISTRATION. 43 

and the best means of securing the results sought for, should, I think, be 
earnestly discussed, and in the main determined as soon as possible. 

"There can be no doubt that the College should be made more agricultural 
than it has been. It was created to be in the especial interest of agriculture. 

"Now I am convinced that this Institution should be buiit upon an agri- 
cultural basis; that agriculture should run all through and through it; that 
no department of practical farming should be left unexplained; that the very 
spirit of the Institution should be agricultural. 

"The faculty have been anxious that the professional element should be 
brought out more fully than it has been; that this should become a School oj 
Agriculture. They are anxious that every facility that can possibly be 
afforded should be, to advance the agricultural interests of our State. 

"I would recommend that, in order to make the Institution more profes- 
sional than it has been, measures be adopted immediately to fill the chair of 
Horticulture, the chair of Civil Engineering, and that some instruction be 
given in the Veterinary Art. 

"I have an abiding faith in the ultimate success of the Institution, if 
the proper measures are adopted for its complete and harmonious develop- 
ment." 

The following excerpts are taken from the report of the members of the 
State Board of Education, J. R. Kellogg, chairman, for the year 1860. 

"We have now, or shall have, before we have finished discussing the 
question, 800,000 people in the State of Michigan. Taking the census of 
1850 as a criterion, sixteen per cent of any large community are between 
the ages of 16 and 22. Michigan has therefor 128,000 between those ages. 
One half of this number may be females. Of the 64,000 males not 1,000 
enjoy the advantages of education beyond the common schools. 

"The Institution continues to attract intense interest in other states. 
It should be the subject of honorable pride in Michigan, that her example 
in taking the lead in a great movement, indicative of educational progress, 
is so generally applauded, and in fact imitated. The organic act of her 
Institution is almost literally copied by the Legislatures of our youngest 
sisters, Iowa and Minnesota. The question of establishing similar colleges 
is agitated alike in Alabama and South Carolina, in Wisconsin and Massachu- 
setts. In their due time, a new order of Institutions has been created. 
It remains for Michigan to retain the lead in this natural and inevitable 
movement, or abandon it." 

The salaries at the Agricultural College at this period were: 

President, $1,500.00; Professors $1,000 each. At the University, Presi- 
dent, $2,500.00, and house; Professors $1,500.00. 

Fifteen rules for conduct of students were printed in 1858, of which the 
following are samples: 

"They are required promptly to attend all Chapel exercises, recitations, 
lectures, and field operations, and to discharge every duty imposed upon 
them. 

"The use of tobacco and other narcotics, being disapproved of under all 
circumstances, is forbidden in any of the College buildings. 

"Card playing, and other games of chance, are wholly prohibited. 

"No student will be permitted to interrupt or interfere with the labor 
of fellow students and other persons employed on the premises, or to visit 
them while at their labor. 

"On Sabbath, students shall attend the jjublic Religious Services, held 



44 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

at the College; and during hours not necessarily otherwise occupied, shall 
remain quietly in their rooms, and engage in nothing inconsistent with the 
proper observance of the day." 

The Board of Education says further in its report for 1860: 
"The year closing the 30th day of November 1860, was in several respects 
the most prosperous in the history of the Institution. The whole number 
of students has been somewhat less than in previous years, but the number 
of proper agricultural students has been greater. The students in attendance 
the past year have numbered fifty, mostly in the preparatory year. The 
course of professional instruction embraces two years. 

"The Board have steadily looked forward to making the Agricultural 
College finally, to a considerable extent, a self-sustaining institution. They 
have believed that the people of the State would untimately demand this. 
But to accomplish so desirable a result it will be necessary to add very con- 
siderably to the cultivated land on the farm. At least one hundred acres 
should be cleared within the next two years, and experience has amply 
demonstrated that it is poor economy to do this by the labor of students. 
An appropriation to this object will be more than repaid by the crops yielded 
the first year. The farm will soon pay for all expenditures made on its 
account. When its full extent of tillable land is l3rought under cultivation, 
it will afford a large income to sustain other departments of the Institution. 
"Our State University, now so magnificent in growth, was not a success 
from the outset. Years of trial, and almost of entire defeat, passed before 
rising above the region of party and sectarian strifes and personal ambitions, 
it breathes free in the ])urer atmosphere of true learning and universal educa- 
tion. So let us hope that this younger child of our State System of Schools 
shall yet escape from the dangers that surround its infancy, and come at 
length to realize the full and beneficent idea of the far-seeing men who in- 
corporated it in our State Constitution." 
The legislature in 1861 authorized the Board to confer degrees.* 
Agricola in The Advertiser and Tribune, Detroit, February 10, 1862, 
wrote : 

"The College was instituted, not in compliance with the demands of 
our farmers, as a body, but because, in the judgment of thinking men of all 
classes, the ignorance and apathy of the industrial, and especially of the 
agricultural classes, stood greatly in the way of that rapid development of 
our industrial resources which constitutes the true source of our wealth as 
a State. We trust no one will question the sufficiency of this object, as 
a motive for the initiation of the undertaking, and it appears to us to be 
equally conclusive as a reason for its continuance." 
Francis Hodgeman '62, writes thus of his course: 

"I graduated at the College in the fall of 1862, was, and am, intimately 
acquainted with all the graduates of the first four classes and, to a large degree, 
with many of the later graduates. I have frequently conversed with them 
in regard to the College, its benefits, its needs and its shortcomings, and 
never heard from any of them expressions other than those of the most 
hearty good-will, and earnest wishes for its continuance and prosperity 
where it now is. Last November I attended a meeting of the alumni and 
heard nothing different there. When I entered the College I was a lad 
of eighteen, dependent entirely on my own resources, and had nothing in 
the world to start with but the wages I had earned teaching the previous 
winter. I worked my way through, paid as I went, and left College pecun- 

*SeB appendix for a copy of the law establishing a State Board of Agriculture. 



ACTING PRESIDENT PISK'S ADMINISTRATION. 45 

iarily poorer than I entered it. I left the College with a strong and healthy 
body, thanks to the manual labor, which I never found occasion to shirk, 
as some did, and will do to their disadvantage. I left it with a firm faith 
in the truth of the principles on which it is founded, and faith in its final 
success. I left it with a heart full of honor for the dignity of the farmers' 
vocation, and full of wishes that every farmer would soon cease to be a mere 
digger in the earth, and rise to the full knowledge and dignity of his calling. 
I did not myself become a farmer, and why? Simply because I was too 
poor to buy even a small farm, was without position or influence, and thought 
that I could do better than to hire out as a day or month laborer on a farm. 
I know other graduates of the College similarly situated, and I earnestly beg 
the fault-finders to stop using us as an argument against the College. It 
gave us opportunities that no other institution would or could give us. It 
taught us to think and to work and to love both." 

Honorable F. W. Redfern gives an interesting account of difficulties he en- 
countered in 1862 in getting to the College: 

"Six years after the College had been started, I left my home in Marshall 
to become a student in the College, going by rail to Jackson, then took a 
stage for Lansing — four passengers and a road consisting of a series of mud 
holes. The three men had to get out several times to help pry the wheels 
up before the poor tired horses could go on, and going up the hills we walked. 
We reached Lansing at 6:30 in the evening. The best I coukl do was to 
hire a horse to ride to the College in a very dark night. Two miles out the 
road was overflowed and the flood had carried away the planks of a sluice- 
way. After getting off the horse I induced him to wa k across one of the 
widest stringers; I found the President, who examined and enrolled me as 
a student, I returned to Lansing about midnight, the next day going on 
foot to the College and began study. In a week, I left College with diph- 
theria, got well and enlisted in the army never to return as a student. I 
had a son, S. J. R., who graduated in 1897." 

In 1861 the faculty consisted of: 

Lewis R. Fisk, A. M., Professor of Agricultural Chemistry; T. C Abbot, 
A. M., Professor of History and English Literature; George Thurber, M. D., 
Professor of Botany and Horticulture; Manly Miles, M. D., Professor of 
Zoology and Animal Physiology; James Bayley, Superintendent of the 
Farm; J. G. Ramsdell, Instructor in Book-keeping. 

The students all told numbered sixty-six, including twenty-nine in the 
preparatory department, and this was the fourth year of the College. 

The farm by this time had proven to be not only an important but an 
indispensable element in the educational facilities of an agricultural college. 
It had become a means of illustrating, in the most satisfactory manner, 
the principles of science taught in the lecture room and of giving the student 
a practical knowledge of their applications. 

The Library at that time contained about twelve hundred volumes. 

During the year 1862, T. C. Abbot was acting Secretary of the State 
Board of Agriculture in addition to his other duties. He states: ''At the 
first meeting of the Board they elected Governor Austin Blair President of 
the Board." He was also the President pro tempore of the Agricultural 
College, until the appointment of Mr. Abbot. Professor Abbot attended 
to the receipts and disbursements of the College, the keeping of the Board 
and faculty records, the labor account of students, and the general corre- 
spondence of the Board. 

"The Board were able, by rigid economy, to find means to put a new roof 



46 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



upon the brick barn, at an expense of $300; to Iniild a ))ri(lf!;e across Cedar 
river, at a cost of $750, and to erect and finish a barn for hay, grain, and 
stabhng cattle, at a cost not much exceeding $1,500. 

"The College has been prosperous in the main. Diphtheria brought 
mourning and a short vacation during the last summer. Eleven of the 
students present at the beginning of the term, and very many of those in 
attendance last year, are in the national army. But there has been quite 
a large and an increasing number of students, as the catalogues will show, 
who speak in terms of enthusiasm of the nature of the studies they pursue, 
and the most of whom intend to follow farming on the termination of their 
course of study. 

"In the midst of a rebellion, which largely engrosses the interest of every 
loyal citizen, the legislature of this state has been too wise to overlook 
the education of her youth." 




Professor L. R. Fisk, chairman, and T. C. Abbot, secretary, one or both, 
made the unsigned faculty report for 1862 and make the best showing pos- 
sible considering all the many discouragements. They seek to have the 
museum enlarged, and urge the beginning of a museum of farm implements. 
(In 1913 not yet in existence). They speak of the starting of a fruit garden. 
The decimated relics of a fruit garden were in existence when the writer 
began work in 1870 and two or three trees still remained in 1911. About 
four rods northwest of the greenhouse is still to be seen a crab-apple and 
possibly another apple tree. Directly south from these was a double row 
of trees extending some four rods, and to the north about the same distance 
where possibly still remain some sprouts from the stump of another crab- 
apple; from which extended east six or eight rods a double row of dwarf 
trees of apple, pear, cherry and other fruits. The light sand was unfavorable 
for the growth of this garden. 



ACTING PRESIDENT FISK'S ADMINISTRATION. 47 

When the garden was started there had been about 250 acres put into 
crops. No effort was made to grow the largest possible crops. No attention 
had been given to raising thoroughbred stock; the main part of the old 
cattle barn, 42x64 feet, was built in 1862 on the spot now (1913) covered by 
the north end of the stately Agricultural Building. Fisk and Abbot sug- 
gested starting experiments to be duplicated by intelligent men in various 
parts of the state; they speak, in their reports, of draining the big marsh 
at the north into the Looking Glass river to make good meadows (not yet 
well done in 1913); the national land grant is referred to. 

Does the Institution pay? The farm superintendent, J. S. Tibbits, replies: 
"Yes, but not in the sense in which the question is usually asked." 

"It pays in the advantage derived from the educational, horticultural, 
and agricultural departments of the institution. It pays in the same way 
th^ our public schools, academies, and universities pay." 

Dr. George Thurber speaks for horticulture: "The institution should 
possess a specimen orchard including all the standard varieties of apples, 
pears and other fruits; it should grow grapes under glass." He holds that 
the ornamental division is useful and profital)le; whatever the students find 
attractive and beautiful here will be adopted by them when they have homes 
of their own. A student, A. N. Prentiss, was selected to act as foreman, 
and made a fine start from the beginning. 

Professor Fisk, acting president under trying circumstances, could not 
be reasonably expected to inaugurate new schemes. Perhaps the College 
held its own and took a few short steps forward during the time when Profes- 
sor Fisk was acting president. The national land-grant gave encouragement. 
The catalogue for 1862, as do all succeeding catalogues, stated that the 
College occupied a pleasant and healthful location, though at that time 
fever and ague still lurked around the neighljorhood. Who ever knew a 
college advertising itself as in anything but a healthful climate? 

The class that should have graduated at the expiration of the first four 
years of the life of the institution (in 1860) was dispersed at the re-organi- 
zation of the College under the Board of Education, or this College would 
have been nearly a year in advance of any other agricultural college in the 
land, in bestowing the honors of graduation. In 1861 a class was graduated, 
and another in 1862. There were no public exercises of the graduating class 
in 1861, as every member of the class but one entered the army of the United 
States a short time previous to the close of the term. 

After serving as chairman of the faculty for nearly four years. Professor 
Fisk and others presumed that the board would elect him president, but 
to the surprise of Professor Abbot and many others, T. C. Abbot was 
elected President of the College in December, 1862,. 

The alcove I had direct from Dr. Miles in 1870. 

Terms and Vacations. 

The college term opened on the last Wednesday of February, and continued 
until the last Wednesday of November, of each year. The examinations 
and other exercises of the College were so arranged as to allow students 
who desired to teach for four months during the winter the privilege of 
being absent the first and last two weeks of the term. 

Routine of Duties'. 

The time of the students was divided between labor, study and recitations. 
They were arranged in two work divisions, one section laboring in the fore- 



48 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



noon, the other in the afternoon. If, then, they were not laboring on the 
farm or in the garden, in conformity with the regulations of the College, 
they were employed either at their studies, or in recitation. 

JUSTIN SMITH MORRILL 

Was born in Strafford, Vt., April 14, 1810, the eldest of ten children. 
His father, his grandfather, and one of his brothers were blacksmiths. The 
family came to Vermont in 1798, from Chichester, N. H. The education 
obtained in the district school was supplemented by a term or two at Thet- 
ford Academy, taken in his fourteenth year. Two years as clerk in a country 
store, and four years in a like position in Portland, Me., constituted his 
advanced course. Then he was a merchant in Strafford, in partnership 
with Judge Harris, for fifteen years, at the expiration of which time both 




U. S. Senator Justin Smith Morrill, born in Vermont. Author of the land grant bill in 1862 appro- 
priating means to establish colleges in states and territories. 

partners were satisfied to retire from business. The next seven years he 
spent in farming a piece of land that he bought upon leaving trade, keeping 
up, also, his lifelong practice of spending his leisure hours with good books. 
He took his seat in the house, December 4, 1855, and received the united 
support of his party in five successive re-elections. 

As early as the thirty-sixth Congress, Mr. Morrill secured the passage in 
both houses of a land-grant college Act. Though vetoed by President 
Buchanan, it was re-introduced in 1862 and, by Mr. Morrill's skilful handling, 
was again carried through the two houses and received the signature of 
President Lincoln. This made possible the founding, in the different states 
and territories, before his death, of sixty-four colleges specially devoted 
to such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic 
arts, without excluding other scientific and classical studies. His own 
limited schooling seems to have suggested this grand purpose to put the 
opportunity to pursue advanced studies within the reach of greater numbers, 



ACTING PRESIDENT FISK'S ADMINISTRATION. 49 

and, at the same time, to secure a more general application of the physical 
sciences to agriculture and other industrial pursuits. Mr. Morrill was the 
author, also, of the bill approved August 30, 1890, for the more complete 
endowment of these colleges. His term of continuous service in the national 
legislature exceeded that of all his contemporaries. The land-grant colleges 
are witnesses to his sagacious forecast and practical spirit. The health 
and vigor of his later years testify to the simplicity and temperance which 
characterized his entire life. During his long career as legislator there 
was no hint of charges of corruption or incapacity. (2) 
7 



50 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PRESIDENT abbot's ADMINISTRATION. 

December 1862 — November 1884. 

In December, 1862, T. C. Abbot was elected President of the College and 
began a service of 22 years, the most important period, in a formative sense, 
in the history of the institution. Although equipped with a classical training. 




THEOPHILUS CAPEN ABBOT. 

he had been so long connected with the institution and had studied so faith- 
fully the ideas of President Williams, whose warm friend he was, that he had 
formed a clear conception of what the College should become. In the next 
year, 1863, when T. C. Abbot's name first appears as president, the catalogue 
contains a statement of purposes, which shows clearly what President Abbot's 
ideas were. It appeared for twenty years in each successive catalogue, the 
last time in 1882, while Dr. Abbot was still president, and it was made the 
basis of most of the acts and policies of his long administration. This state- 
ment is well worth considering for its influence upon the development of the 
College. It follows here : 

"The State Agricultural College proposes: 

"1st. To impart a knowledge of Science and its application to the arts 
of life. Especially are those Sciences which relate to agriculture and kindred 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



51 



arts, such as Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, and Animal Physiology, prosecuted 
to a much greater extent than in institutions where the study of their practical 
applications is not pursued. The instruction given in the Lecture room is 
illustrated and enforced by the actual and prolonged study of plants and 
animals, and of the various practices and experiments of the farm and garden. 
Students will be taught to distinguish clearly between those principles and 
settled rules of agriculture, in accordance with which they may safely proceed, 
and those theories or practices which are either exploded, or are as yet the 
proper objects of experiment and discussion only, but whose too hasty adop- 
tion has led to repeated failures, and to the discredit of Science. 

"2d. To afford to its students the privilege of daily manual labor. As 
this labor is to some degree remunerated, it might seem intended only to 











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Barn and sheds, Horticultural Department. 



lessen the expenses of the student. Its first use, however, is educational, 
being planned and varied for the illustration of the principles of Science. 
The preservation of health, and of a taste for the pursuit of agriculture, 
are two other important objects. It is well known that students who pursue 
a college course very seldom thereafter engage in any industrial pursuit. 
Four or six years of study without labor, wholly removed from sympathy with 
the laboring world, at that period of life when habits and tastes are rapidly 
formed, will almost inevitably produce a disinclination, if not inability, to 
perform the work and duties of the farm. But to accomplish the objects 
of the institution, it is evident that its students must not, in acquiring a 
scientific education, lose either the ability or the disposition to labor on a 
farm. If the farmer then is to be educated, he must be educated on the 



52 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

farm itself; and it is due to this large class of our population that facilities 
for improvement, second to none other in the State, be afforded them. 

"It is believed that the three hours' work which every student is required 
to perform on the farm ot in the garden, besides serving to render him familiar 
with the use of implements and the principles of agriculture, is sufficient also 
to preserve habits of manual labor, and to foster a taste for agricultural 
pursuits. It has been found in the past sufficient to keep the students in- 
terested in every department of farm and horticultural work; and the daily 
labor of each one being performed at one time, does not occupy him longer 
than is requisite for preserving health and a robust constitution. 

"3d. To prosecute experiments for the promotion of agriculture. Agri- 
culture is the creature of experiments. Very few farmers possess facilities 
for carrying on experiments accurately, and to definite results. From a 
lack of general acquaintance with the laws of Nature, their experiments 
generally, unless guided by scientific men, are comparatively valueless for 
the determination of vexed questions of practice, and the establishment of 
general principles. An extensive Laboratory, and other means at hand, 
enable the institution to enter on a series of experiments, to be prosecuted 
systematically and continuously from year to year. As the students them- 
selves, at a proper stage of advancement, participate in conducting these 
experiments, they will go forth from the institution qualified to make and 
record observations for the use of Science. 

"4th. The organic law of the College, as well as the act of Congress do- 
nating lands for agricultural colleges, contemplate courses of instruction 
in the military art, and in the applications of Science to the various arts 
of life. Instruction to a limited extent, is already given in military field 
operations, hygiene, etc. Aside from this, the practical applications of 
Science are at present pursued mostly in directions desirable to the farmer — 
as surveying, leveling, laying out of grounds, mechanics, as applied to im- 
plements, buildings, stock-breeding, etc. 

"5th. To afford the means of a general education to the farming class. 
This the Agricultural College endeavors to supply. The labor system pre- 
serves the student's health, and the habits and love of wholesome work. 
The professional part of the course gives him an insight into the nature of the 
objects and forces with which he has to deal. Addecl to this are the branches 
of study which help to make an intelligent and useful citizen, which cultivate 
his taste, and enable him to give expression to his knowledge and opinions." 

In order to show how Dr. Abbot's ideas were worked out in practice, the 
course of study at the College as it was in 1863 is here given. No electives 
were allowed. 

Course of study in 1863. 

PREPARATORY CLASS. 

First Half- Year. — Arithmetic, Descriptive Geography, English Grammar. 
Second Half- Year. — Algebra, Natural Philosophy, Composition. 

COLLEGE COURSE. — FRESHMAN CLASS. 

First Half- Year. — Algebra, Geology, Geometry, Book-keeping. 
Second Half- Year. — Trigonometry, Surveying, Entomology, Principles of 
Stock-breeding, History. 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



53 



SOPHOMORE CLASS. 



First Half- Year. — Physics, Structural Botany and Vegetable Physiology, 
Elementary Chemistry. 

Second Half-Year. — Physics, Analytical Chemistry, Systematic Botany, 
Horticulture. 




Sheep barn, built by Dr. Miles, enlarged in 1906. 



JUNIOR CLASS. 



First Half-Year. — English Literature, Agricultural Chemistry, Animal 
Physiology. 

Second Half-Year. — Industrial Drawing, Landscape Gardening, Rhetoric, 
Zoology. 



54 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

SENIOR CLASS. 

First Half- Year. — Inductive Logic, Mental Philosophy, Civil Engineering. 

Second Half- Year. — Astronomy, Moral Philosophy, Political Economy. 

"Declamations every six weeks during the course. Composition every two 
weeks. Drill in Infantry Tactics twice each week. A lecture is given in 
the Chapel each Tuesday afternoon, as follows: 

On Horticulture, the first Tuesday of each month. 

On Applications of Chemistry to the Arts, 2nd Tuesday. 

On Manual Operations on the Farm, 3d Tuesday. 

On Care and Feeding of Domestic Animals, Health, and on various topics, 
4th and 5th Tuesdays. 

On Military Hygiene, the 1st Friday. 

On Military Fortifications and field operations, the 3d Friday." 

At that time (^1863) the professors and officers of the College were few in 
number compared with what they are to-day. A list follows: 

T. C. Abbot, A. M., President, Professor of History and English Literature. 

Manly Miles, M. D., Professor of Zoology and Animal Physiology. 

C. A. Kenaston, A. B., Instructor of the Preparatory Class, and Secretary. 

R. C. Kedzie, A. M., M. D., Professor of Chemistry. 

Albert N. Prentiss, B. S., Instructor in Botany and Horticulture and 
Sujjerintendent of the Gardens. 

Oscar Clute, B. S., Instructor in Pure and Applied Mathematics. 

Hon. Langford G. Berry, of Detroit, Treasurer. 

At that time, while the academic and scientific instruction were of a high 
order, there was no professor of agriculture. The faculty agreed that such 
a professor was needed, "but a man of such attainments was at that time 
not to be hoped for. The principles that underlie the j^ractice are not yet 
ascertained." (9) 

The writer has often heard President Abbot refer to these early years of 
his administration as the darkest days in the history of the College. It was 
a trying time in the country, then in the midst of a civil war, and appropria- 
tions were hard to get and students were few. In 1863 there were l)ut 60 
students, running down to 48 in attendance. The faculty was small and 
poorly paid. The salaries were: 

The President $1500 

Professor of Chemistry $1000 

Professor of Zoology $1000 
Professor of Mathematics 



From President Abbot's first report (1863) the following is summarized: 
"The present term opened under singular embarrassments. It was well 
known that the Institution depended on legislative appropriation for current 
expenses, yet no such appropriation was made until three weeks after the 
commencement of the spring term. Meanwhile the Detroit daily papers, 
and many others gave the public the impression that no provisions woukl 
be made for the expenses of the College. Students now in actual attendance 
were making arrangements to go elsewhere and finish a course commenced 
here, under a very prevalent impression that the College would be closed. 
Invariably all applicants for admission, by letter or otherwise, were informed 
of the existing uncertainties. Gradually, however, many of the former 
students returned, and others entered, until our numbers were fifty-one, not 
including a few others who were in College a short time on conditions." (9) 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



55 



All this goes to show how long it takes for a great idea to find a secure 
root-hold and grow. The germinal idea of the agricultural college was very 
old. I quote from an interesting report made years later by Prof. L. P. 
Breckenridge : 

"This new system of education was presented to the world by that good 
Moravian Bishop Comenius more than 200 years ago. 

"Here are some of his words: 

"(1) 'Let everything be communicated through the senses and turned to 
present use.' 




Piggery built by Dr. Miles, twice moved. 



"(2) 'Let nothing be prescribed as a memory task that has not pre- 
viously been thoroughly understood.' 

" (3) 'Leave nothing until it has been impressed by means of the eye, the 
ear, the tongue, the hand.' 

" (4) 'Let nothing be learned by authority, but by demonstration sensible 
or rational.' 

"(5) 'Above all never teach words without things.' 

"(6) 'The senses are the most faithful standards of memory.' 

" (7) 'Mechanics and artists do not teach their apprentices by disquisi- 
tions, but by giving them something to do.' 

" (8) 'The study of languages should run parallel with the stutly of things, 
especially in youth, for we desire to form men, not parrots.' 

"(9) 'As human nature rejoices in doing, everything should be learned 



56 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

by practice, and the utility and bearing of what is learned should be made 
manifest.' 

" (10) 'We do not speak to our pupils, but the things themselves, and every- 
thing should be taught by the things themselves, or, when these fail, by 
accurate representations of them.' " 

A few schools were just ready to follow his jjrecepts after an interval of 
over 240 years. 

In spite of many discouragements, President Abbot, however, revealed his 
qualities of unfaltering hope and good humor, and his report tells of steady 
improvements in fence and road-building, clearing and log-burning, draining 
of wet lands and the planting of an orchard. All the departments were busy 
with new work of various kinds, laying the foundations for the activities of 




Dwelling of the foreman of the farm, formerly the farm house. 

future years. Dr. Kcdzie began making meteorological records, among the 
first in the country, and these have been kept continuously to this writing 
(1911.) Dr. Miles visited the eastern herds of Short-Horns and Dcvons and 
began to supply the College with fine animals as models for farmers, and strong 
efforts were made to illustrate in the farm work scientific principles of culture, 
rotation of cro]5s, etc., and to employ the latest machinery. In this year also 
the Cooley herbarium was presented to the College, and Professor Prentiss 
maintained a model garden for vegetables and small fruits. 

In the second annual report (1863) of the Secretary of the State Board of 
Agriculture appear five and a half pages devoted to a minute plan for con- 
ducting the farm and garden with relation to the instruction. Though 
bearing no signature, I am sure, knowing his habits, that President Al)bot 
prepared it. It provided for extensive mapping of the ground and laid down 
24 rules, with numerous sub-rules, providing for the most minute and syste- 
matic reports of every operation, and the relation of lectures in the class- 
rooms to the work outside. I need not quote these rules, for most of them 
would now be considered worthless lumber. They were fine-spun and most 



l^RESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



57 




58 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

of them impracticable, as the writer knows from a long experience in teaching 
students in the orchard, garden and about the campus. When a student 
runs a lawn mower by hand or horse, or rakes leaves in autumn, or picks up 
rubbish about the halls, or runs the swill barrel to the pig pen, or splits some 
wood, or digs narrow-leaved dock, the more he knows of the art of labor the 
better, but he is not going to get much application of science out of such jobs. 
The class-room instruction rarely fits a class just in the nick of time to be 
practiced in the field or garden. A foreman with little skill and experience 
is sure to give some bungling instructions, which will be discovered by some 
student. President Abbot was a wonderful scholar, but he possessed very 
little manual skill, which made it impossible for him to give good rules for 
others to follow with profit. 

To add to all of its other difficulties in those days the College was under 
a constant fire of criticism. There were still those who urged that it be 
merged with the University, but the State Agricultural Society continued sup- 
porting it vigorously. From scrap-books in the college library the writer 
gleans these examples of the newspaper, and other criticism: 

"The College is a failure and a disappointment, the location should be 
changed; let the farm go and begin new in an older region; join it to the 
University and use the buildings for a reformatory school." 

Governor Moses Wisner about 1860 said: "The time will come when the 
Agricultural College will be the pride and boast of our State." 

"For a farm the rolling surface of Washtenaw presents greater advantages 
than any other region of the State." 

"The College only needs a small farm of 40 — 60 acres for experiments." 

"It costs too much; it has few students; it is not turning out farmers." 
That the College would be criticised was prophesied by President Williams 
in his inaugural. 

"The same faculty, the same farm and garden and collections can as well 
give instruction and practice to 300 students as to 82." [A fallacy, W. J. B.] 

"That heavy humbug, the Agricultural College." Free Press, 1869. 

The outgoing Governor Crapo and incoming Governor Baldwin in '69 
recommended some support. 

" Does the labor of students pay? Pay how? or what? This is a college." 

"Make your student a master farmer, or master mechanic; but make him 
also a master man." Andrew D. White, President of Cornell. 

In the Junior Annual of the Class of 1901, Dr. Kedzie tells a story which 
illustrates the difficulties which the College had to face during the hard years 
of the war: 

"When I came to the College in 1863, the faculty consisted of the President, 
two Professors, and three Instructors — a membership of six, somewhat in 
contrast with the 45 (149 in 1913, not including 14 members of the staff of 
the Experiment Station) that now make up the faculty and sub-faculty of 
today. The halcyon days of the College soon passed away. Dr. Miles 
remarked to me, 'Before you came we never had a divided vote in the faculty; 
it was always unanimous.' The word was spoken in reproof, but accepted 
as a sly compliment. 

"The faculty meetings during the school year were held at seven p. m. 
Monday, when matters of great interest to the College were earnestly dis- 
cussed and plans matured. One subject frequently before us was how to 
secure more students and fill up our skeleton classes to the full quota. 

"In our faculty meeting the appalling information was given that D 

and G were going home for the reason that their red flannel shirts had 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



59 



been stolen from the clothes line and they had no money to l)uy garments to 
replace them. 'Lose two good students for the price of a pair of shirts? 
Never!' A contribution on the spot raised the sum necessary, the shirts were 
bought and presented — as gorgeously red as if they represented the life-blood 
of the College." 

It will be interesting, also, to see how the College looked to the students 
of those days. The writer quotes from an address given by the Hon. S. M. 
Millard, class of '64, at the third annual reunion of the Chicago M. A. C. 
Association in 1898. Mr. Millard was for many years a successful lawyer 
in Chicago: 

"Crude were our beginnings; rough and unkempt was the raw material 
from which to construct the temple of learning Dark days were they in the 
'60's when class No. 2 enlisted in a body and went into the army. Dark days 
were they when for weeks all classes were in doubt whether the powers that 
were would wreck the College in the interest of other institutions of learning. 
Dark days were they when the epidemic of diphtheria spread through and 
thinned our ranks within a few days, by taking six of our fine fellows, and abso- 
lutely closing the doors of the College. We have many times wondered how our 





Part of the farm, over a mile long, showing the fields and two railroads. 

gallant Imnd of determined men in classes two and three stood by the Col- 
lege, and fought out the days and years of trials and tribulations. Few men 
of latter years can understand the heroism of our pioneer students. And we 
are glad it is so. Like the old veterans of the Mexican war, the veterans of 
the M. A. C. saw no dress parades. They lived in their 'fatigue suits' and 
left the 'dress parade' to their successors. We never had a 'college yell' but 
we dug ditches and stumps three hours a day. Yet there dwell in the temples 
of memory, pleasant thoughts and sweet recollections of the men we knew as 
classmates, and whom we learned to love." 

In a letter to the M. A. C. Record, Mr. Millard gives the feeling he had 
of the breadth and meaning of the new sort of education. 

"We do not worship any one man as the founder of our College — no John 
Harvard, no Hopkins, no Cornell — but in the beginning, an idea appeared; a 
broad-knowledge was demanded, — a knowledge which would reach out into 
all the walks of life, and elevate all pursuits and callings. 

"Our alma mater was among the first colleges in the world to fully in- 
corporate and crystallize the elements for a broad, practical education to men 
desiring to break away from the old curricula. The idea was at first crude 
in its earlier life. They did not fully realize that the study of chemistry, 
botany, zoology, geology, English literature might be as severely disciplinary 
as the dead languages. 



60 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"Since our College had its birth, every college in the land has modified 
its curriculum, and has grafted into its college requirements more or less of 
the sciences, mechanics, and the practical arts in life — until the older classical 
institutions have become rich in special courses. A college for a broad or 
practical education opened its doors, and our old boys walked in; little did 
we of the pioneer days dream of the present." 

Dr. C E. Bessey, who has since become a well-known botanist with long 
experience as a professor in agricultural colleges, was a student from 1863 
to 1869 and gave at our semi-centennial his vivid impressions of the teaching 
quality and kind of teaching of those days: 

''how they taught in the studies. 

"It was emphatically the period of the textbook. Some of the professors 
gave lectures, but in every subject the student always had his textbook as the 
basis of his study, and daily recitations were the rule. We learned things 
from books, and were asked to repeat them orally at greater or less length to 
our teachers. We were not asked to write out what we knew, but were re- 
quired to stand up and tell it under the keen eye of the professor, and the 
brutally critical attention of the class. In this way we learned to think on 
our feet, and I have always felt that much has been lost by the general aban- 
donment of the old-time recitation, and the substitution of the written quiz 
and examination. 

"Chemistry, even at that early day, was taught by practical work in the 
lal)oratory. We had one lecture or recitation a day, and in addition two hours 
daily of laboratory work. In the lecture the professor accompanied his 
presentation of the subject by carefully planned demonstration experiments, 
greatly to our edification, and occasionally to our amusement. In the 
laboratory we plunged at once into the qualitative analysis of unknown 
substances. We learned to handle chemicals and apparatus by the very 
simple plan of actually handling them ourselves. Of course we broke ap- 
paratus, and blew up things rather often, but finally we learned to be careful, 
and no one was killed or seriously hurt in the process. 

"In marked contrast to chemistry, was the presentation of physics, which 
was wholly a textbook study. We used Olmstead's Natural Philosophy, 
reciting and demonstrating (on the blackboard) from its pages, but neither 
making experiments ourselves nor seeing any made by the professor. 

"Surveying was made a living subject for us by the addition to a stiff 
textbook, of a considerable amount of field-work, with compass, transit, and 
level, and the accurate plotting of results. 

"Our geology was still a textbook subject only. There was no thought of 
the use of specimens of rocks or fossils by the class, nor was there any re- 
quired field-work in connection with the subject. Yet there were in the 
museum on the third floor many such specimens. The idea of their use by 
the students had not yet taken hold of teachers in American colleges. The 
museum contained specimens to be looked at through the glass doors of the 
cases by the public and occasionally by the students, but such specimens 
were for preservation, not for handling." 

"In zoology we used a textbook, but its required use was small, indeed. 
The professor (Dr. Miles) loved to talk to us, and he led us in his talks far 
deeper into the subject than did any textbook of that period. 

"Even the subject of entomology was mainly a textbook study. We 
memorized so many pages and repeated them as nearly as possible verbatim. 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 61 

Here we looked at specimens brought to the class. There was also some 
desultory collecting of specimens, and now and then a student was seen 
frantically pawing the air with a "bug-net," in his efforts to capture some 
beetle, bug, or butterfly. 

''In my own science of botany the work was then mainly confined to daily 
recitations from a textbook, accompanied later by dissections and 'analyses' 
of plants in the classroom, under the direction of the professor. We had a 
few simple dissecting microscopes which we used in these exercises. Here 
was no doubt the germ of the laboratory idea as applied to botany. But the 
purpose was not so much to find out the structure of the plant as to find its 
name. When that was accomplished we stopped further study of the plant. 
The name was the important thing and when it was found there was nothing 
more to l)e done, unless perhaps to check it off on the margin of the manual. 

"It was a primitive college, and the teaching of the sciences was primitive. 
We may smile now at the kind of instruction we received at the hands of 
the professors of that day (1864-65) but it must not be forgotten that science 
teaching was rather new in all colleges at that time. Sciences were not 
well taught in any of them. In many they were not taught at all. And it 
is the glory of our Alma Mater that she encouraged the study of these sciences. 
Forty years ago this was the only college in the west in which one could study 
all of the great sciences in any manner, or after any fashion at all. And it 
is greatly to her credit that, with the possible exception of Harvard Univer- 
sity, this College then gave the most extended and thorough course in botany 
in this country. 

"It was a pioneer in science teaching, and its primitive methods were due 
to the fact that nowhere were better methods known or practiced. Elsewhere 
they were generally still more primitive. The College stood then as now for 
the study of things, as shown especially in its teaching of agriculture, horti- 
culture, and stock breeding. The College was instinctively, though uncon- 
sciously, moving toward the modern laboratory method. It led the way 
toward illustration and the direct study of things themselves, and gave a 
strong impulse in aid of the incoming of the laboratory idea. 

"No alumnus of this College need be ashamed of the kind of work done in 
the early days, but rather should he be proud that his Alma Mater, though so 
young among the colleges of that time, was among the first to adopt modern 
methods of teaching and study." 

The feeling that the College was engaged in the great pioneer task of 
establishing a new form of education, and that there was therefore constant 
necessity of defining its purposes and describing its Avork, was ever present 
with Dr. Abbot and other early leaders. In one of his reports (that of 1864) 
he expresses this thought in words: 

"Persons in other states also who are interested in the work of establishing 
agricultural colleges under the late land-grants of Congress, are entitled to 
whatever results our experience may seem to us to have wrought out. 

"As it is, in spite of the partial success of the college in Pennsylvania, 
and of our own, every question is under discussion in other States : the length 
of the course; the kind of studies; whether or not instruction shall be given 
wholly by lectures; whether labor shall be required of the students; whether 
the farm is to be mainly a model or an experimental one ; and the relations in 
general of labor and study. The details of our plans are eagerly sought for 
by persons in other States, and, as a general thing, are approved by those who 
give them their attention. The Commissioner of Agriculture, at Washington, 
has examined and endorsed our general plan. The prevalent discussion of 



62 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

agricultural education in the papers, occasioned by the late grants of Con- 
gress, has not as yet brought to our notice any detailed plans varying much 
from the system we are already working upon. Intelligent farmers and 
educationists who have visited the College, express themselves pleased with 
the plan, and what they see of its workings. We would be glad to prosecute 
the work with such vigor as to enable Michigan to maintain the first rank 
for the excellence, as it does for the priority, of its Agricultural College." 

In order to present more vividly a picture of the College as it was in those 
early days I give here the memories of two old graduates, Daniel Strange 
of the class of '67 and Alfred G. Gulley of the class of '68. 

Daniel Strange writes me: 

"When I entered in '64, aside from the one dormitory there was but the 
one College Hall devoted to instruction. This, of course, housed the library, 
museum, chemical laboratory and all biological laboratories, if indeed any 
could be said to exist. The farm buildings were but the one large cattle 
barn, a very small brick horse barn and a pig sty. The teams were two 
worn out horse teams and two good ox teams. There were three shorthorn 
cows, two Devon cows, and a bull of each of these breeds. There were a few 
grade cattle and Suffolk and Essex swine, but I think no sheep until the fol- 
lowing year. 

''There were four small brick cottages for the president and professors. 
The above with the farm constituted the College's material equipment. 

"The faculty, as you well know, consisted at that time of only President 
Abbot and Professors Kedzie and Miles. Professors Clute and Prentiss 
were then employed simply as instructors. Professor Fairchild came the 
next year as instructor of the i:)reparatory department and Professor Cook 
came in '67 as instructor in mathematics. It has always been a matter of 
great wonder to me that so feeble a college should have been manned by such 
able and strong men. President Abbot was a man of marvelous scholastic 
attainments. America has known but very few who were in this respect his 
equal. Dr. Kedzie's praises have been sung ; o long, so loud, so repeatedly 
or so constantly that I need not add a word. If indeed he was, as is so often 
claimed, the backbone of the College for many years, then was President 
Abbot the brain and the heart, and Dr. Miles was the active limbs. Clute, 
Prentiss, Fairchild and Cook all achieved later a national reputation as 
eminent educators. Not one of these men had any practical knowledge of 
farming, excepting possibly Dr. Miles, and his knowledge was certainly very 
limited when he became Professor of Agriculture, but he was a man of emi- 
nently scientific trend of thought, a faithful student and an indefatigable 
worker. His early collegiate instruction had been quite limited, and however 
little or much he may have known of agriculture when appointed, he lived 
until those best qualified to know said that if there is any science of agri- 
culture. Dr. Miles knows more of it than any other man living. (May I add 
parenthetically that in my opinion the future historian will write that the 
science of agriculture was not yet born when Dr. Miles died, but certain it is 
that he guarded and nurtured the embryo.) 

"These, then, were the men upon whom was laid the heavy task not only 
to develop the first of agricultural colleges but to develop the science that she 
might teach; a task not unlike that of the pioneer farmers who had first to 
carve out their farms and then to develop them ere they could really become 
farmers. President Abbot had a marvelous, clear vision of the ultimate aim 
and object of the College. Professor Kedzie taught chemistry with a view 
to its application to soils and fertilizers; botany was taught with reference 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 63 

to the field rather than to the forest; mathematics was taught with a view 
to its application to farm surveying and engineering, and Professor Cook 
became later a terror to all the bugs, if not to the bees as well. Michigan 
was filled with practical farmers with but slight appreciation of scientific 
research, and it is no wonder that to them the College became known for its 
hundred mistaken experiments before it was famed for one important advance 
in practical farming. 

"If an ideal university is Mark Hopkins seated on one end of a log and a 
student upon the other end, here indeed was an ideal college, for it had not 
one man seated, but five earnest, enthusiastic teachers up and active and 
leading by the hand, so to speak, a score of seekers for scientific truth. We 
dwelt in a sacred nearness to our teachers that never can obtain in a larger 
institution. We were invited into their families and welcomed into their 
libraries or to private interviews at all times. Their personalities impressed 
us and were stamped upon us for all time." 

Alfred G. Gulley, '68, gives these memories: 

"The most convenient method to get to Lansing was to walk, hence the 
students did not visit the city very often. As a matter of fact there was no 
reason why we should go, as nearly all our needs were supplied by the steward 
or some department of the college. 

"Our social duties were neither extensive nor expensive, consisting of an 
occasional reception by some of the faculty or possibly once a year a visit to 
the female seminary in North Lansing, then called "Lower Town." There 
was but one dancing party on the grounds during my college course, and not 
another until many years later. During the latter part of my time President 
and Mrs. Abbot held receptions on Saturday nights, which were much ap- 
preciated by the students. 

"It was the duty of one student to walk to Lansing each afternoon and 
carry all mail going to and from the College. For nearly half my course this 
position was filled by a one-armed veteran of the civil war. 

"Athletics as such did not exist. Soon after my time, ball clubs were 
started in nearly all colleges and towns. They were not known as teams. 
The game became popular at once at the College when introduced in 1865. 
The first club at the College went under the name of The Stars. Curved balls 
were not yet discovered. No attention was paid to any other sport, though 
an attempt to introduce cricket in 1866 proved a failure. 

"We had both class and college debating societies that flourished more 
or less. 

"The labor system was a very important part of the institution. We 
worked regularly three hours each week-day. All the early siDring was de- 
voted to cutting wood used on the grounds, where buildings and rooms were 
heated by wood stoves. During the growing season about all of the work 
on farm and garden, except teaming, was done by students. 

"In the winter vacations a large number of the students taught district 
school, to earn money to help on college expenses, and often at the same time, 
acted as solicitors for more students from among their pupils. 

"The small number of teachers and students, coupled with dormitory life, 
enabled all to become intimately acquainted and resulted in many life-long 
friendships that have been of great value. Some of the strongest life-long 
supporters of the College date from those times." 

Until 1865, though the College was designed to teach agriculture, there was 
no professor of agriculture; the principles had not been formulated so that 
:they could be taught. But, in 1865, Dr. Manly Miles who had been the 



64 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

professor of zoology since 1861 became "Professor of Practical Agriculture 
and Superintendent of the Farm." He was the first man in this country 
to attempt such teaching or to outline such a course in an agricultural college. 
The reader may like to read his brief announcement from the catalogue of 
1865. It will show what agricultural instruction meant at that early time: 

"Practical Agriculture." 

FIRST YEAR. 

"Laying out of farms; 
Farm fences; 

Arrangement and planning of farm buildings; 
General principles of tillage; 
Principles of drainage; 
Laying out and construction of drains; 
Implements for preparing the soil for crops; 
Mechanical preparation of the soil; 
Methods of seeding; 

Implements for seeding — their construction and management; 
Harvesting of crops; 

Implements and machines used in securing crops; 
Principles of stock-breeding; 

Breeds of domestic animals — their characteristics and adaptation to par- 
ticular purposes. 

FOURTH YEAR. 

"General principles of farm economy; 

Manures — their management and mode of application ; 

Succession of crops; 

Preparation of the soil for particular crops; 

Gultivation of grain crops; 

Cultivation of root crops; 

Cultivation of special crops; 

Management of grass lands; 

Stock husbandry; 

Care of animals and principles of feeding; 

Fattening of animals; 

Management of sheep." 

In addition to the above course, instruction was given in the field in the 
various manual operations of the farm. By a system of rotation in the 
assignments of labor, each student was made practically familiar with the 
different kinds of work. 

If this first course in agriculture seems somewhat primitive it must be re- 
membered that the kinds of work on a farm and the methods of doing it then 
were very different from those of modern times. For example, in hay-making 
one man, or two, three, or more men would work, each with a scythe and each 
cutting about an acre in a day. A boy or man followed with a light fork 
spreading the newly cut grass. When the grass had dried to some extent, 
each man moved the hay about eight feet in one direction with a hand rake, 
the next carrying it another eight feet, and the third man moving it likewise. 
Very likely the windrow consisted of three rakings on each side. If very 
dry, the hay was loaded by hand, drawn to the barn and pitched off into the 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 65 

mow or stacked outside. Trained with such methods, reading little, possess- 
ing a very moderate eckication, we can hardly l)lame a young man for not 
attending an agricultural college. In 1857, and later in many portions of the 
state, the farmer needed to know how to cut down trees to advantage, to 
burn the brush Avhen dry, to cut up and do the logging in due time, to harrow 
the land with an A-shaped harrow containing eleven or thirteen teeth an inch 
and a quarter in diameter, strong enough to bring up standing an ox-team 
without breaking. Then he sowed wheat by hand and harrowed some more. 
The next July he cut the wheat with a cradle, two to four acres a day, with a 
man following to rake and bind. He might liurn the stubble, harrow and 
sow another crop of wheat, sometimes following with a third crop. He 
split rails and laid up a fence, seeded and pastured his land for a few years, 
then pulled out stumps with a yoke of cattle, possibly dug out and removed 
stories. He summer-fallowed the land to secure another crop of wheat. 
He had never heard of soil exhaustion, nor had he any knowledge of nitrogen, 
potash or phosphoric acid. Troublesome insects and weeds were few and 
bothered him little. He cleared one field after another to produce more 
crops. On the oak-openings, after cutting the trees up to three or four 
inches in diameter, he broke the ground with a breaking-up team consisting 
of four or more yoke of oxen hitched to a stout home-made plow. 

Remember, too, that farming is the oldest of occupations, and one con- 
ducted for ages with little knowledge or skill; in other words an honorable 
occupation but one of a very low grade. Is it reasonable to expect that a 
great body of farmers — heirs of long generations of primitive methods should 
arouse in twenty-five or even fifty years and go in great numbers to learn 
agriculture in a college? 

In the same way that the College found difficult}- in getting to the point 
of giving real and practical instruction in agriculture, it found difficulty 
in getting away from the ancient methods of text-book instruction to the new 
and practical methods of laboratories and laboratory work. In 1866 there 
was but one laboratory; it was in old College Hall and was for chemistry; it 
was called the laborator3^ 

It was long ago discovered that old College Hall was built with only a half 
supply of windows. This marked defect has followed along down- the half 
centurj' of its existence, and has been rediscovered by every occupant, es- 
pecially by teachers of botany, chemistry, mathematics, and zoology. The 
writer, after testing rooms for a small class where each member used a com- 
pound miscroscope, found during the forenoon that the southeast room on the 
third floor was the best one, but even in that the light was insufficient. He 
secured a new laboratory, but not until 1880. 

What did the chemist, Dr. Kedzie, think of it? Read lines on page 48 of 
the report for 1866, of the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture: 

''The need of a new laboratory must be apparent to any one who considers 
the necessity of abundant light and free ventilation in a laboratory devoted 
especially to chemical analysis. Facility in chemical analysis often depends 
entirely upon good light, as the evidence of the presence or absence of a given 
substance is found often in delicate shades of color, or in the existence of 
precipitates, which can be seen only in a good light. The present laboratory, 
27x50, is lighted by two windows, and the tables are so arranged as to in- 
tercept a large part of the light. Some improvement has been secured by 
throwing the balance room into the laboratory, and thus securing a third 
window, but even now the supply of light is entirely inadequate in the best 
weather, and on cloudy and stormy days the students must frequently sus- 
9 



66 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



pend their analyses. There are no means of securing good side light in the 
present laboratory without injuring the architectural appearance of the Hall, 
and no opportunity whatever of securing sky light or vertical light, which 
is very important. The facihties for ventilation are equally unsatisfactory." 
In 1867, there appeared the germinal idea of one of the most important of 
all the developments of the College — that of the short courses for practical 
farmers — though the development of the idea did not come until years later. 



StmWS vn 

JUUVORS kB 

SOPnoKOftS.3 16 

FfttirtMUM ;J8 

VVJl'ltH \Q 

it' i.\t\i\W3 Z 

fftufhRhtOrty 36 







.^a 6i\«.-.. ,.., jiniCft r\,JrtSi. E,a*\N. 



Map of Campus in 1870, when Dr. Beal began. 



The suggestion came through the State Agricultural Society of which W. C. 
Beckwith was then President and as a result of a joint meeting between a 
committee of the society and a committee of the legislature. In the report 
of this joint committee the following resolution was adopted: 

"Resolved, That we are satisfied that the industrial interests of Michigan 
will be subserved and promoted by liberal appropriations on the part of 
the legislature for the support of the Agricultural College, including items 
for a winter course of lectures." 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



67 



The same effort to get short courses was also made at the annual meeting 
of the executive committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, hekl 
in Detroit in January, 1867. Hon. W. J. Baxter, of Jonesville, a member of 
the State Board of Education (1857-61) in charge of the College, made a re- 
port on that part of the president's address which related to the State Agri- 
cultural College, in which the following passage occurred: "Resolved, That 
we again recommend to the authorities of the college a course of lectures on 
agricultural and kindred subjects during the winter months, satisfied as we 
are that they would be largely attended by a class of farmers' sons who are 
partially released from the lalDors of the farm at this season of the year." 

Early in July, 1870, the writer made his first visit to this College, then 
13 years old, to teach botany during the summer. As a contributor to the 
Prairie Farmer he came with keen interest and wrote out his first impressions. 




Williams Hall, built 1870. 



Lansing was a town of 5,241 souls, in the midst of which was the old capitol, 
constructed of wood. There was but one railroad passing through the city. 
It was a line from Jackson to Saginaw and was of primitive style. The 
writer secured a ride to the College with a farmer, and on the way soon learned 
that many farmers within twenty miles placed a low estimate on the value 
of the "state farm," as it was often called at that time. The course extended 
over clay knolls and corduroy, the poles of which were to keep the wagon 
wheels from getting deep into the mire. 

At the right of the main gateway, then nearly due north from College Hall, 
were four small brick dwellings for the president and three professors. The 
bricks for these and the two halls were manufactured on the college campus, 
west of the present armory. 

In 1870 the income of the College was less than $40,000, the year closing 
with a deficit of $6,000. 

Tlie College was young, poor, and small. No member of the faculty had a 



68 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



69 



chair to himself, but ''occupied a whole settee." For example, the professor of 
botany also taught history, some English, algebra, and civil engineering. 
The students took breakfast a little after six, and got out of chapel by seven, 
where the president called the roll. Classes extended over a period of four 
hours, all closing in time for dinner. For three hours in the afternoon all 
students were engaged in manual labor. 

Fifty-nine students had graduated, of whom three had died. The ten 
women students selected such studies as suited them from the only course 
offered at the College, viz., the course in agriculture. Even at that day, 
President Abbot urged that some special provision be made for a course 
suited to women, including household economy. 

The college year consisted of two semesters, beginning late in February 
and. closing with commencement in November, thus affording an opportunity 
for students who desired it to teach a district school in winter. 

In 1870 it was not difficult to plan a course of study for an agricultural 
college. Except some points gathered from manual labor, which were not 
numerous nor very important, the students received, all told, eight weeks of 
daily instruction in horticulture and ten weeks in agriculture, and these 
topics were chiefly taught by the slow process of lectures. There were few 
books and papers to aid students in their pursuit of agriculture. The College 
was in the woods, so to speak, with no model to follow. Nowhere in this 
broad country were students yet taught advanced stock judging, stock 
feeding, the examination of dressed meats, soil physics, dairying, plant 
breeding, plant histology, ecology, plant physiology, farm economics, the 
growing of forest trees, spraying for insects and fungi. Bacteriology as 
related to animals, dairying, soils, and plants was a sealed book. 

As late as 1870, the College had very little contact with farmers by way 
of institutes or extension correspondence. 

The catalogue along about these times makes the best of what the College 
has, mentioning a healthy location, the endowTnent of public lands to be sold, 
means of illustration, such as a botanic garden, a museum, the Cooley her- 
barium, and a museum of vegetable products, though the writer in 1873 
speaks of a small beginning of a botanic garden aside from what is scattered 
about the campus. The faculty in 1870 had been enlarged and consisted 
of seven professors instead of four. 

I append the daily program of studies as it appeared in 1871. 



FIRST TERM. 



Class. 


8 a. m. 


9 a. m. 


in a. m. 


11 a. m. 






Agriculture. 
Zoology. 


Astronomy. 
French. 


Landscape gardening. 
Civil engineering. 






Analytical chemistry. 


Analytical chemistry. 


Praxis, four weeks. 
Analytical chemistry. 


Drawing, six weeks. 






Sophomore class 




English literature 


Praxis, four weeks. 
Botany. 


Elementary chemistry. 


Freshman class I 




Praxis, six weeks. 
History. 


Algebra. 


Book-keeping, six weeks. 
Physical geography. 



7d History of Michigan agricultural college. 

SECOND TERM. 



Class. 




8 a. m. 


9 a. m. 


10 a. m. 


11 a. m. 




1 




Mental philosophy. 


Moral philosophy 
Political economy. 


Fren'A. 






Junior class 




Mechanics. 


Physiology. 


Chemical physics. 




Sophomore class.. 


-( 


Analytical chemistry. 


Analytical chemistry. 


Praxis, three weeks. 
Analytical chemistry. 


Botany, ten weeks. 
Horticulture. 


Freshman class. . . 


A 


Agriculture. 


Praxis, four weeks. 
Botany. 


Aleebra, common. 
Geometry. 





After years of struggle, beginning about 1869, the College began to find 
itself and not only to grow somewhat more rapidly, but to win more of the ap- 
proval of the state. In that year the legislature appropriated 170,000, 
including money for a new hall, and the friends of the College were much 
cheered. In 1873, G. W. Griggs, President of the State Agricultural Society, 
in his annual address gave expression to this new feeling in these words: 

"It affords me pleasure, and it cannot but be gratifying to all who feel 
an interest in the advancement of agriculture and mechanics in our state, to 
witness the flourishing condition of the Agricultural College. It is for the 
interest of the farmers of Michigan that they give to their sons a more com- 
plete education on the subjects relating to their profession. This is necessary 
to make farming successful and profitable. Agriculture and manufactures, 
I reiterate, are the basis of the wealth and prosperity of the country." 

While many of the newspapers of the state, notably the Detroit Free Press 
and Post and the Adrian Times, had been bitterly hostile, it was pleasing to 
find this editorial in the Detroit Tribune in 1874: 

"The Michigan Agricultural College has steadily worked its way into 
general favor. 

"The careful and judicious management of the State Board of Agriculture 
the excellent, practical qualifications of the members of the faculty for their 
duties, all together have given the College a worthy name and record the world 
over. 

"We are happy in knowing that at our Agricultural College there are no 
stand stills." 

HEAVY WORK OF THE FACULTY IN AN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

No one who has not been inside as one of the faculty of an agricultural 
college such as the one at Lansing in 1875, can have any adequate conception 
of the unceasing work and worry it requires. Growing crops take no vaca- 
tions in summer, and to a far larger extent than in the older colleges and 
in classical schools, the faculty of an agricultural college must be on duty all 
the year round. 

Besides teaching classes, most of the professors had care of student labor, 
must take inventories, write reports, answer great numljers of inquiries, show 
visitors about the premises, work in museums, plan improvements, prepare 
and make exhibits at fairs, possibly leaving a brief respite of one or two 
weeks during a year. 



f'RESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. fl 

As an example of a busy life, the writer notes the report, in 1876, of Professor 
G. T. Fairchild, the professor of English literature: 

"My absence from daily duties is all included in seven days taken for a 
visit to the Centennial Exposition, during which the president kindly under- 
took to provide for my classes. 

"In conclusion I have only to deprecate the fact that my labor must be 
so scattered in many directions as not to give the best results in teaching, 
and to leave no time for studies that I need for my lectures, and that may 
bring advantage to the College. I feel that I ought not to ignore this need 
of my department." 

The writer might quote his own reports for any one of forty years at the 
college with much the same showing. 

In his report for 1876, Dr. Abbot also refers to the heavy work of the 
faculty, as follows: 

"The combination of work and class-room duties throws upon our professors 
an amount of labor that cannot be easily appreciated by those who measure 
the duties of a professorship by those in ordinary colleges." 

Especially did the hard work tell upon President Abbot himself, who was an 
invalid during all his active life, and compelled to give up work and suffer 
from sick headache once in one to four weeks. With the view to improved 
health, the Board granted him leave of absence for a trip to Europe from 
May, 1873 to May, 1874, and Professor G. T. Fairchild acted as President 
in his absence. However by 1875, this ill health was beginning to impair 
the president's enthusiasm and vigor. He missed Dr. Miles, who had been 
his companion for more than fourteen years, and the selection of Dr. Miles' 
successor had proved unfortunate. But President Abbot remained with 
patience and determination at his post. 

In more recent years the burden on the staffs of agricultural colleges has 
grown steadily heavier instead of lighter. In 1875, a year ever memorable 
in the history of the College, and indeed of agricultural education, farmers 
institutes were first inaugurated (a full account of which is given elsewhere) 
and this added greatly to the work of many of the professors. Short courses, 
extension-work and many other branches of activity have also tended to 
broaden and intensify the work of the college staff. 

SUNDAY SERVICES. 

During these years, also, President Abbot kept up Sunday services at the 
College. In those times the ministers of Lansing were called upon to preach 
in rotation, though one of them permanently declined. But in spite of this. 
President Abbot himself was often called upon to preach. In the absence of 
street cars and with the frequency of bad roads, he usually attended chapel 
with a sermon ready at hand in case the promised speaker failed to appear. 
Besides this, the president also must have known that the college population 
much preferred hearing him, to listening to most of these ministers serving 
small congregations in a town of 5,000-10,000 people. 

During the college year of 1876, President Abbot thus conducted the 
religious services seven times; in 1875, twelve times and during some previous 
years certainly more than twelve times. Again, the president preached 
oftener than he otherwise would, especially at certain times in certain years, 
for the reason that some members of the legislature questioned whether the 
College authorities had a right to use state funds to the extent of the paltry 
stated sum of five dollars per Sunday to pay ministers. 



72 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The whole service has usually been brief, frequently all told not over 
fifty minutes. Sunday schools and Bible classes have been maintained more 
or less uncertainly with frequent changes of teachers and students. 

In 1859, and possibly at other times, while Professor Fisk was acting- 
president, there was some "feeling" among students and faculty in reference 
to the selections of ministers from Lansing to preach at the College on Sun- 
day. C. W. Knickerbacker, a Universalist clergyman, distributed a printed 
pamphlet dated April 28, 1859, signed by most of the students, requesting 
the Board of Education to ask Mr. Knickerbacker to preach in rotation with 
clergymen of other denominations. Some of the members of the faculty 
opposed inviting him, saying " Universalists are not considered christian." 
President Williams had favored inviting clergymen of every denomination 
in Lansing. For a time it was the rule to invite no clergyman, but ask the 
professors in turn to conduct the service. The writer is not certain just how 
the matter was finally adjusted. 

CHAPEL EXERCISES. 

In early days, students were routed out early, for they attended chapel 
at 5:30 and breakfasted at 6:00 A. M. Professor Cook says: 

"The student of to-day knows nothing of the celerity with which a student 
may rise from his bed, dress, and get to chapel. Five minutes was a generous 
allowance. At that time there were monitors to see that students were all at 
prayers." 

During most of his administration President Abbot called the roll at chajiel 
and marked the absentees. But when his health began to decline, the at- 
tendance at chapel fell off, and it was usually attended by none or very few 
of the members of the faculty. In his report for 1882 he says, "I have had 
(;harge of the daily morning devotional exercises of the students. No other 
officer attends.' 

But later, by his genial way and personal solicitation, President Willits 
after assigning a seat to each member of the faculty, succeeded in inducing a 
full and regular attendance, which also induced the students to fill up the 
1 tenches fairly well. 

Beginning about 1885 the chapel exercises were voluntary, the number in 
attendance very fluctuating. For a time at chapel a student or two varied 
the program by making a speech. President Willits was most earnest in the 
matter and entreated members of the faculty to attend, and directly or in- 
directly urged each student to attend. As a rule, the larger the number of 
students in college, the smaller the attendance at chapel. For many years 
the chapel exercises had been held in the morning from 7:40 to 8. President 
Snyder thought this was an unfavorable hour, especially for those living in 
Lansing. Then the four morning hours were each "shortened" five minutes, 
leaving twenty minutes for chapel during the middle of the forenoon. Per- 
haps this scheme was a little improvement, it certainly suited a number of 
students, especially in fair weather, for it furnished a most favorable op- 
portunity for securing a little fresh air in connection with "campustry," 
and the time was improved and became more and more popular. In 1909-10 
certain members of the faculty, announced beforehand, occupied in rotation 
a few moments each with a talk on some appropriate subject, religious or 
otherw'se; such as the peculiarities of a German university, a visit to Scot- 
land, description of a Spanish bull fight. With all of these efforts in the past, 
including also several musical instruments in connection with the singing. 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 73 

the number attending settled down to about fifty persons or less, till in the 
winter of 1911, the non-attendance at chapel was made unanimous. Years 
before, chapel exercises at the University had met with the same fate as 
those at Michigan Agricultural College. 

HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE ORCHARDS. 

Reference has ])een made to the first apple orchard set well toward the 
northeast portion of the farm, by President Williams in 1858, and to the first 
pear orchard, set in the hollow southeast of the house of the president, on the 
hill, and the freezing of this orchard in 1873, when the thermometer registered 
33° below zero. In the spring of 1876, the writer set on the clay hill west 
of the president's home, 50 pear trees, 35 plums, 87 cherries. The next year 
one hundred more pear trees were set to the west of those planted the year 
before. As was to be expected, the sweet cherries were short-lived on ac- 
count of our severe winters, perhaps also to some extent on account of the 
stiff clay soil, to which they were poorly adapted. Most of the plum trees 
were short-lived. Owing to exposure, this orchard on the hill has been a 
eource of annoyance, owing to depredations by students and people outside. 
It was cut down in 1913. 

The trees for the apple orchard selected and planted by President Wil- 
liams were about fifty years old when, in 1906, Professor Fletcher thought 
most of those still alive had outlived their usefulness. In the M. A. C. 
Record for Oct. 31, 1905, he says: 

"It is planned to remove this winter all of the old orchard of four and one- 
half acres, but four rows of Spies, which will be kept for class work. They 
were planted on a poorly drained site, where the hard-pan comes close to 
the surface in some places, they have made the twisted growth of trunk char- 
acteristic of such sites, with the result that all the trees have split apart 
very badly, and nearly a third have already been removed. Of the remainder 
there is not one that is not rotten-hearted and maimed. The land will be 
rested in clover for a few years before being used for experiments in horti- 
culture, but it is not considered advisable to set fruit trees upon it again, 
because the site is too low and wet." 

The years from 1873 to the end of President Abbot's service in 1884 were 
marked with the establishment or beginning of many new things, now familiar, 
at the College. The writer will merely refer to them, giving their dates, for 
the sake of making the record complete. 

In 1873, the Arboretum was started near the highway; now in 1913, forty 
years ago. 

In 1874, the two rustic bridges, so long a familiar sight at the college, 
were made, of oak logs, peeled to make them more durable. One was a foot- 
bridge over the open ditch by the seven willows in the path from the pro- 
fessors' houses to the college buildings. The other was a wagon bridge, 
16 feet wide, with five piers, over the brook and hollow just west of the chemi- 
cal laboratory. These bridges were much admired by almost everybody. 

The college dormitory, commonly called the Old Hall, was burned De- 
cember 9th, 1876. It being vacation no students were occupying it, but 
the hall was undergoing repairs at the hands of masons and carpenters. 
The legislature convened soon after election and appropriated $25,000 for 
a dormitor}^ afterwards known as Wells' Hall after Hezekiah G. Wells. 

In 1878, the writer prepared the first popular account of the trees on the 
grounds; duplicated copies were reserved for students and visitors. 



74 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



In 1879, the forward move on temperance known as the Red Ribbon 
Movement was active at the College. 

In 1879, Professor George T. Fairchild, after fifteen years of faithful ser- 
vice resigned, to become president of Kansas Agricultural College. 

Under the direction of Professor R. C. Carpenter, an ice-house, 20x30 
feet, was constructed, in 1879, near the dam across the Cedar. 




Observatory, built 1880. 



In the fall of 1878 and spring of 1879, the setting of the double row of elms 
along the highway, now familiar to every visitor at the College, was completed. 
As on some previous years, C. S. Sargent,[Director of the Gardens at Harvard, 
very generously gave the, College a large number of hardy and green-house 
plants, mostof which were soon lost because the college force was inadequate 
for their care, 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 75 

Of a new society, President Abbot had this to say, in his report for 1880: 

''It may be not out of the way to mention the fact that a new society was 
formed in Boston th(> present year, by persons in attendance upon the ses- 
sions of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, — a society 
for the advancement of the science of agriculture. It is made up of a few 
earnest workers in agricultural chemistry and vegetable physiology. Dr. 
Kcdzie, Dr. Beal, and Professor Cook of this College arc among those who 
have organized it, and Dr. Beal was made its President. The society holds 
its next meeting in Cincinnati, August 17th, 1881. Persons become members 
only l)y invitation." 

In 1881, the legislature, unasked, made an appropriation of $1,000, chiefly 
for experiments in ensilage, to be conducted by Professor Samuel Johnson. 
A silo, 14x15 feet, with walls eight feet high, was placed in the northeast 
corner of the basement of the grain barn. In 1887 a second silo was built, 
18x30 feet square, to hold 150 tons of silage, located just north of the old 
cattle barn. 

Professor R. C. Carpenter deserves credit for getting a telescope and 
accessories in good working trim at the College. The instrument is a fine 
one; it is mounted to move by clockwork, and although rather small — tlu^ 
IcMis only 5| inches, was manufactured by th(^ celebrated firm of Alvan Clark 
& Son. The ol)servatory, located just northwest of th(! professor's res- 
idence, is of brick, with movable roof. 

In June, 1882, for the first time the farm department purchased a twine 
self-binder. 

SPECIAL WORK IN CHEMISTRY. 

In connection with other work done by students in chemistry, the follow- 
ing is given in the college paper for June 1882: 

'M)r. Kcdzie received a sample of 'Palmer's Plant and Vine Protector,' for 
analysis. It is claimed that it protects plants from all insects, and 'at the 
same time invigorates their growth.' It contains about seven parts of bran 
or shorts and one part of cayenne pepper." 

About one year later a list of a dozen humbugs was reported. 

"The sophomore class in their work in chemical analysis combined work 
and p\a,y in the analysis of various substances which at different times have 
flooded the markets of our state. Some of the results already reached by 
the class are given here, with the cost of the article and the price at which 
it was offered for sale: 

"1. Coaline. Eight ounces of sal-soda (carbonate of sodium) in a gallon 
of water, with a few drops of nitro-benzol to give it an agreeable odor. Cost, 
3 cents a gallon; retail price, 40 cents. 

"2. Silver Plating Fluid. An ounce vial of solution of nitrate of mer- 
cury, which will form a temporary silvery coating when rubbed on brass, 
copper, or silver, which speedily tarnishes when exposed to the air. Cost 
3 cents; retail price, 50 cents. 

"3. Nickel Plating Fluid is the same as 2, except that a little nitrate 
of copper and nitrate of nickel are added to the solution of nitrate of mer- 
cury. Cost 3 cents; retail price, 50 to 75 cents. 

"4. Fire Test Powders to prevent explosions in kerosene lamps, the 
breaking of lamps and chimneys, and the danger of burning from the use of 
low-grade oil. These are pill-boxes containing one or two ounces of^common 
salt, colored with analine red. Cost, 1 cent a box; retail price, 60 cents,|_or 
two for a dollar. 



76 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



''5. Fire Proof Powder from Wisconsin is water lime. Cost, | cent; 
retail price not known. 

"6. Silver Polish. Pill-box filled with water-lime. Cost, | cent; retail 
price 25 cents. 

''7. Ozone. A package of about | pound weight, consisting of pulverized 
sulphur, colored with lamp-black and scented with oil of cinnamon. Cost 
4 cents; retail price, $2.00. 

"8. Spear's Preservative Yhud consists of one ounce of bisulphite of 
soda dissolved in a pint of water. Cost, 5 cents; retail price, $1.50. 

''9. Marie Fontaine's Moth and Freckle Cure. 'For external use only. 
Put the contents of this package into an eight ounce bottle, and then fill 
with rain-water.' The package contains 32 grains of corrosive sublimate, 
or mercuric chloride. Cost, ^2 cent; retail price 50 cents. 




Dwelling for the Elnfouiologist. Built for a bee-house, later built over. 

"This is only a part of the nostrums examined by the class in chemical 
analysis, and other substances, such as Sozodont, Mrs. Allen's Hair Dye, and 
St. Jacob's Oil await their turn." 

This work was instructive and popular. 

About one year later, a report of a similar nature; was ]H-intetl in the 
Speculum, another in 1884, and stlil another in 1885. 



STUDENT GOVERNMENT AND DISCIPLINE. 

Fven when the number of students was small, there was at times a great 
lack of order in the dormitories, nnich to the amioyance of students, faculty 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 77 

and visitors. Perhaps it was in 1878, report came that at Iowa Agricultural 
C'Ollege there was in vogue a system of self-government among the students 
that was very successful. It was tried at M. A. C, as numerous other de- 
vices have been tried from time to time. 

The prime object was to maintain order in the dormitories, and secure the 
general comfort of students. There were usually ten rooms in a "district," 
each to elect one captain and one lieutenant, all elections to be subject to 
the approval of the president of the College. The duties of the officers of the 
students' government were, to arrange all trials and act as judges. Captains 
and lieutenants were to make it their first duty to prevent any disturbance 
within their districts. Rules were also made concerning testimony, verdicts, 
penalties, records, appeals and pardons. The plan was too complicated and 
was soon modified, though, when well lo()k(Ml after it was a partial success. 

The following is a ])ortion of an editorial in the Speculum, of October 1.'), 
1884, H. K. Thomas, '85, editor: 




President's House. Built 1874. 

"It has been, and is, asserted by not a few, that the students' govern- 
ment is becoming a failure. We do not think that this is altogether the 
case; but, on the contrary, think it is the best means that could be provided 
for bringing about and maintaining the objects of the system. But the ad- 
ministration of affairs has been for a long time so loose that it lias liecome 
a sort of habit to allow matters to run about as they will. 

"The persons who have the immediate oversight of such matters are, of 
course, the captains and lieutenants. But it is too often true that these 
men are elected, not because they will attend to their business, but because 
they will not; they are frequently men who either will not or are afraid to 
report any misdemeanors." 

The success or failure of self-government of students calls to mind the 
success or failure of a law prohibiting the sale of spirituous liciuors in a village 
or city. If some capable officers spend much time as detectives and are 
vigilant in prosecutions; the law will be a success, but if the law is left to 



78 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

enforce itself, the saloon men are ever ready to sell liquors to all that ask for 
them at all times of day or night, Sundays not excepted. 

When the president or some other officer of the college followed up the 
work, students' government was a great success. 

In his report for 1884, the same year in which the above editorial Avas 
printed, President Abbot says: 

"The students' government has been well sustained, the members have 
been judiciously chosen by the students and the organization has been of 
essential service in preserving order and general good conduct, and in looking 
in various ways to the comfort of students and visitors. The captains and 
lieutenants have met the president once a week, on Mondays. The students 
have been generally orderly- and harmony has prevailed." 

In 1884, Lieutenant J. A. Lockwood was detailed by the president of the 



Dwelling No. 2 Faculty Row. No. 3 is same style, built 1874. 

United States to serve as Professor of Military Science and Tactics, the 
first "mifitary" man to be thus appointed. In the same year, a U. S. post- 
office was established at the College with R. G. Baird postmaster. German 
( arp were placed in the pond at the botanic garden, with the view of i)r()s- 
ecuting fish culture, but fortunately for the College the fish escaped. At- 
tention was again given to the bill before congress to grant means for con- 
ducting experiments; the State Board resolved to admit pupils from approved 
high schools to the freshman class without examination, spoken of as "by a 
certificate." The triennial meeting of the alumni was held August 16, this 
year, with S. M. Millard '64 as President; among the needs mentioned Avas a 
general assembly-hall. This has been needed from 1884 to the present time 
(1913) 29 years. The legislature of 1911 made an appropriation for such a 
building but the bill was vetoed by Governor Osborn. 



I^RESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 



79 



In 1884, T. C. Abbot made his last report as president and in review writes 
as follows: 

"The college passed, owing to a faith in the general plan of it on the part 
of the people of the state, through the dark days of the rebellion. In 1860, 
it had no income except legislative appropriations, and had less than fifty 
students in all. The Congressional grant of 1862 gave the College the 



4 




L 



Corn house built 1878 by Professor C. L. Ingersoll. 



strong defense of hope, but it was not until 1870 that the institution realized 
an income from the sale of lands. By scrupulous impartiality of treatment 
of political parties the College has passed from being called the expensive 
pet of one party, to being, I believe, one of the institutions of the state, 
whose interests all the people gladly combine to further, and in whose pros- 
perity they all delight. I early laid it down as a rule that no opposition 
to the College should be held to be a ground of ill feeling against any per- 



80 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

son, and now I have the pleasure of seeing former opponents of the College 
among its warm friends, and the principal agricultural organization of the 
state among its best supporters. The State Agricultural Society, State 
Horticultural Society, and State Grange all endeavor to make known and 
recommend the College. Personally, I have cause to be very grateful for the 
patient encouragement which these organizations, and the several farmers, 
stockmen, and horticulturists have extended to me, as an individual, as well 
as to the College over which I presided. 

"Now as I look abroad, I see where over three hundred graduates form the 
])est of our strength, in the communities where they dwell, and a series of 
winter institutes. At home I look upon grounds which are models of beauty, 
upon good buildings for nearly every department, u])on stock and other 
equipments of an Agricultural College, second to those of no institution of a 
like character in the land. 





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Dwelling No. S, Faculty Row. 

"Surely, I can but carry out of the Presidency grateful memories of mem- 
bers of the Board and of previous Boards, of the officers of the College, its 
long succession of students, and of the citizens of the state whose encourage- 
ment and friendship I have so constantly enjoyed. Surely I can but wish for 
the College, under some new President, enlarged prosperity and success." 

Let us turn back twenty-two years over President Abbot's administration, 
during two-thirds of which the writer was an employe of the College. In his 
first report appeared a clear statement of what he termed "Objects of the In- 
stitution" which he stood steadily by throughout his term of office, though 
they were essentially the same as those set forth by President Williams. 

On first coming to the College he became a warm friend of President Wil- 
liams, and studied with appreciation his ideas as to what the Agricultural 
College should become. This study led him to a cordial acceptance of the 
main ideas that had inspired the early friends of the College in their efforts 



PRESIDENT ABBOT'S ADMINISTRATION. 81 

for its establishment, and that had been taught and practiced by President 
WiUiams during his brief administration. 

The College was embarrassed by starting in the woods nearly thirty miles 
from a railroad, with horrid wagon roads intervening, and by having no model 
to follow. It was sorely pinched for means for growth ; it was rent by the 
civil war; it was harassed by efforts to make it a school of the university. 
For most of his term of office, there was but one course of study for all, with 
no electives. Trouble came from the employment of a number of men ill 
fitted for the work they attempted; the management of compulsory student 
labor added much to the difficulties; the teachers were overworked for fifty- 
two weeks in the year. Among the improvements the farm was mapped 
out into fields, the library grew slowly from 1,200 to 8,000 volumes; the 
pear orchard, set in a hollow, died and another was set on the hill; scrub 
cattle were slowly replaced by thoroughbreds; the Board of Agriculture re- 
organized the College, a pioneer with a meager equipment, and very few 
constituents by way of alumni. With all these and more obstacles to meet. 
President Abbot, with unfaltering hope and good humor, made the very best 
of the limited resources at hand and kept steadily on from year to year. 

We wonder the task was not a1)andoned, but the national land-grant was 
a l)right ray of light. The agricultural society, the state grange, the 
pomological society and portions of th(? law-makers were friendly. The 
College slowly emerged from forest and swami), and gained friends. 

At this point the reader will naturally wish to read tht^ l)iography of the 
president, in another part of this volume. 
11 



82 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGK. 



CHAPTER V. 

PRESIDENT WILLITS' ADMINISTRATION. 

July 1, 1885— May 1, 1889. 

On November 24, 1884, Dr. T. C. Abbot tendered his resignation as presi- 
dent, but continued to aet in that capacity until July 1st, 1885. Hon. Edwin 




EDWIN WILLITS. 

WiUits, principal of the State Normal School, was elected president of the 
College on the day President Al)bot resigned, and assumed the duties July 1, 
1885. 

The year 1885 was a memorable one in the history of the College. Not 
only was there a change in the presidency, but there were important changes 
in the faculty; there were a number of new buildings constructed and, most 
notable of all, a new mechanical and engineering department was organized. 

On August 4, 1885, after a severe illness of six months' continuance, Robert 
G. Baird, who had been secretary of the Board and College since Aug. 25, 
1875, died, and Henry G. Reynolds, of Old Mission, was elected to succeed 
him. 

Jan. 1, 1885, James Satterlee, Professor of Horticulture and Landscape 



PRESIDENT WILLITS' ADMINISTRATION. 



S3 



Gardening and Superintendent of the Horticultural department since 1883, 
closed his connection with the College by resignation; in the same month 
Liberty H. Bailey, Jr., was elected to his position. Professor Bailey served 
until August 16, 1888. 

During the year an armory or assembly room for military drill was built, 
also a veterinary laboratory and a mechanical laboratory, shops and class 
rooms, the latter building being designed by Professor R. C. Carpenter and 
erected at a cost of $7,800. 

Professor Lewis McLouth, of the State Normal School, was elected to take 
the lead in the management of the new division of mechanical engineering, 
later spoken of as the division of engineering. 

April 4, 1885, marks the death of Hon. Hezekiah G. Wells, who had served, 
with a slight interruption, as a member of the State Board of Agriculture 




Dwelling No. 10, faculty row, built 188.5. 



from 1861 to 1883, a period of twenty-two years. During much of the time 
he was president of the Board. 

One of the first duties President Willits Avas called on to assume was to 
attend a convention of agricultural colleges and experiment stations, held at 
the department of agriculture in Washington, D. C, July 8th, 1885. He 
was invited by the commissioner of agriculture, to read a paper on ''In- 
dustrial Education." Thirty-one states and territories were represented, 
and the discussions were of great interest and of mutual benefit. 

Agricultural education received a substantial impulse. It was "an effort 
to bring all the agricultural colleges and experiment stations into harmonious 
co-operation through the department of agriculture, so as to assign and 
develop more systematically the experiments devised, and to secure a con- 
solidated report of the results. It was found that in nearly all cases the 
colleges and stations were crippled for means properly to conduct and report 
the experiments." 



84 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The convention ap])ointed a committee to present the matter to the next 
congress. The committee consisted of President Atherton of Pennsylvania 
College, President Lee of Mississippi Agricultural College, and President 
Willits who were to visit Washington for that purpose, the December or 
January following. 

On tiie nineteenth day of August, President Willits delivered an inaugural 
address consisting quite largely of a history of the College with remarks 
concerning the different departments and their work. Concerning the new 
division of mechanic arts, he said : 

" The time is now propitious for the new department. It was hardly prac- 
ticable to establish it sooner. There was no great public demand for it. 
The grant was in fact in advance of general public sentiment, but the lead- 
ing spirits who advocated the land grant saw that in the near future indus- 
trial education, in all its phases, would be a leading factor in our educa- 
tional system and that, as the mechanical industries grew, instructit)n in 
the mechanic arts would become the subject of a live demand. It is so 
today. It has the platform for legitimate deliberative discussion, and all 
over the country the best eciuipped minds and the brightest intellects are 
engaged in this, to us, new leading topic. Continental Europe, older in 
these industries, long since saw the necessity for special attention to the 
matter, and during the last fifty years has expended large sums in schools 
of technology, and the promotion of sciences lying at the base of all the in- 
dustries. The result has been marvelous." 

President Willits received an enthusiastic greeting on assuming his duties 
at the College. He reports: "I have visited many meetings of the alumni 
of other institutions, but never have I witnessed so lively an interest. It 
struck me as something peculiar to this College, and upon this fact I base 
in a large measure the future permanent prosperity of the institution. 

"We can accommodate with reasonable comfort in the halls and on the 
grounds, 230 to 250 students and no more unless the number of opportunities 
outside increase. 

"This brings us face to face with a more serious question. We have a 
plant here that has cost nearly or quite $400,000, and it justifies and demands 
at least 500 students. At the last commencement, in an address from the 
platform the governor of the state said the institution fell short of its duty 
if it had less than 500 students; and any person who has taken the time to 
investigate our unexcelled facilities for instruction, mil feel warranted in 
coming to the same conclusion." 

President Willits infused new life into the institution, and the increase 
in the number of students and in the interest of all concerned soon became 
apparent. Especially did President Wilhts show ability in dealing with 
the difficult problems of dormitory life. Soon after arriving at the College 
he discovered that rooms in the dormitories could be improved in appear- 
ance. He talked to students collectively and individually and kept right 
at it. He visited the students' rooms, looked after their brooms, dust- 
pans and rubbish boxes, and especially after any defacing of the walls. If 
he discovered a pencil mark, he saw that it was erased, not to-morrow or 
maybe next week, but right away, and he talked about the subject. Daily or 
weekly visits to the halls, without scowling tirades, but with earnest appeals 
to pride and decency had their effect, and students in general soon fell in 
with his plan. During my forty years at the College, no one ever succeeded 
as well as President Willits in keeping dormitories tidy. It was worth while 
and he knew how. 



PRESIDENT WILLITS' ADMINISTRATION. 



85 




86 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

His enthusiasm also helped the professors in their work. It is gratifying 
to record the following concerning President Willits by Professor MacEwan: 
"To you I am under great obligation specially for your prompt response to 
every request for assistance when the work has been more than I could do 
alone." 

Professor Grange was also much encouraged by the cordial and sympathetic 
attentions of President Willits. 

Dr. Beal refers, in the annual report of 1886, to the new president in this 
way : 

"In closing, I cannot help telling you how much I appreciate the great 
interest and cordial support in word and actions you have given the botanical 
department. It does one good to see your enthusiasm spreading through all 
the work of the College from the faculty and students to the humblest em- 
ployee. It certainly bespeaks a rapid growth and greater efficiency of the 
Michigan Agricultural College." 

This feeling of satisfaction under the new administration was also felt 
Ijy outsiders. In his annual address E. 0. Humphrey, president of the state 
agricultural society refers to the College: 

"Our annual visit to the Agricultural College in June was a very interest- 
ing event. It strengthened my conviction more firmly than ever of its im- 
portance and usefulness in promoting the interests of agriculture in our state. 
Its well arranged appointments speak well for the management of the in- 
stitution. The systematic arrangements throughout the college buildings 
and farm, the superb judgment and taste exhibited in the selection and 
l)reeding of stock and the well cultivated fields, is a worthy example for any 
of the most exalted taste and ambition, and the young men who have the 
opportunity and benefit of that institution are highly favored." 

In these years (1885-1886) of revived interest, it will be valualjle to note 
some of the activities of the staff and faculty and their recommendations 
regarding their departments: 

The Lil)rarian, Mrs. Merrill, called especial attention to a pressing want 
in 1885: 

"The librarian feels it a duty to call attention to the need of a work-room 
and store-room; the library is growing quite rapidly and all accessions and 
accumulations must at present be handled in the sight and hearing of all 
readers and visitors." 

This want has been mentioned nearly every year for twenty-nine years and 
in 1913 is still unsupplicd: an appropriation to cover this want and more 
passed the legislature in 1911, but the bill was vetoed by Governor Osborn 
on the score of economy. Economy! 

Professor Johnson inclined to the opinion that educational labor on the 
farm and garden could succeed only when placed on a par with laboratory 
work. 

Professor Louis McLouth was busy all the spare time at his disposal visit- 
ing the oldest technical schools, and with Professor Carpenter urged more 
room for students in shop and dormitory. And he added this interesting 
early suggestion as to extending the facilities of the College for women stu- 
dents : 

"We have now a dozen or more young women in our classes, and the 
number will naturally increase as fast as opportunities are offered, and yet 
no provision is made for their industrial training in any direction. ' I know 
of no reason why industrial schools should not offer to young women, as well 
asto young men, courses that are intended to fit them for their own proper 



PRESIDENT WILLITS' ADMINISTRATION. 



87 



industrial pursuits. We are not offering anything in the nature of handi- 
craft instruction suitable to their sex. 

"Permit me, then, to suggest to you, and through you to the Board, that, 
as soon as may be, and this could be easily provided for if the proposed ad- 
dition to the mechanical building is secured, a suitable room be fitted up for 
a women's industrial lalioratory, where, for a couple of hours each day, while 
the young men are engaged in the fields or shops, the young women may 
practice and learn such light handicrafts as are suitable. 

"Again, as I hear that a building for a young women's dormitory may pos- 
sibly be asked for, I would suggest that a model kitchen and dining-room be 
fitted up in this proposed building, and that they be put under the direction 
of a competent lady as matron and instructor in domestic economy and house- 
hold art. I believe by doing this we can greatly enlarge the usefulness of 




Howard Terrace built in 1888 for the use of small families; now a dormitory for women. 
Named for the first Secretary of the Board of Agriculture. 



the College by making it as helpful to the young women of the state as to the 
young men." 

I call attention to a plan approved by the professor of English language 
and literature, viz : to bring the English teaching into closer connection with 
the science teaching; Professor L. H. Bailey and the writer each assigned 
topics in horticulture and in botany respectively for descriptive essays that 
counted in the department of English. 

As the timber was rapidly disappearing in northern Michigan, considerable 
discussion arose as to the value of these stump or cut-over-lands. The 
writer made a suggestion to President Willits that Professor Bailey and him- 
self, with two or three others, make a trip across the state in May from 
Harrisville in Alcona county to Frankfort in Benzie county. Instead of 
opposing the scheme on account of the expense or for any other reasons. 
President Willits believed it would be profitable and soon decided that the 
College should pay half of the expense and the Experiment Station half. 



88 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Right here, let me take note of a kind and thoughtful act of President 
Willits. On his own initiative he made a special trip to Detroit, interviewed 
the editors of two leading papers. Consequently each sent a reporter who 
was with us for nearly the two weeks of the journey and wrote a column 
or more daily concerning the country we passed through. With the photo- 
graphs taken and reports made was not the exploration profitable? 

Professor Bailey took up his new work in horticulture and landscape 
gardening with great enthusiasm. During his second year at the College 
the horticultural building, the first laboratory in this country devoted 
wholly to horticultural work, was completed. He also extended the gardens 
and orchards. He reports in 1886: 

"The most notable new feature of the department is a fruit garden which 
has been set apart this year for the double purpose of testing new varieties of 




Horticultural laboratory. Built in 1888. 



small fruits and of furnishing illustrative labor to students. It c()m])rise8 
four acres of variable soil. It has been enclosed in a double windbreak com- 
posed of a row of maples alternating with a row of spruces. It is expected 
that the maples shall be removed when the spruces become large enough to 
afford protection. A thorough system of tile drainage is being placed under 
the garden. Most of the fruits which are growing in the fruit garden were 
set last spring, or early this fall in the case of strawberries." 

Owing to repeated changes in the professorship of horticulture these plans 
have not been followed. Professor Bailey planned to take out the row of 
maples and leave the spruce; the reverse has happened. It is questionable 
whether the windbreak has proved of any benefit in this case. The location 
for a fruit garden was as suitable as any place available, but in many re- 
spects has proved disappointing. 

In his report for the next year Professor Bailey says: 

"Most of the pioneer work upon the department has now l)eeii don(>, and 
very many of the unpleasant features of the duties imposed u^jon the dei)art- 



PRESIDENT WILLITS' ADMINISTRATION. 8§ 

ment have been overcome. The liorticultural building is nearing com- 
pletion. Upon the whole this building is well-planned. This is the first 
distinctively horticultural laboratory in this country. But despite the fact 
that much of the pioneer work of the department has been done, there yet 
remain many annoyances and burdensome features which could easily be 
remedied. By far the greater part of the work of the professor of horticulture 
is concerned with matters which are not strictly horticultural. The scavenger 
and errand work of the institution, at least, should not be imposed upon this 
department. Some means should be provided for irrigating the gardens, 
or portions of them. I feel more strongly than ever the need of more super- 
vision of student labor." 

The most difficult and exciting period in the entire history of the Col- 
lege occurred during President Willits' term of service. It centered around 
the trouble which arose between Professor Samuel Johnson and the students 
of the College. 

Samuel Johnson was elected Professor of Agriculture December 1879 and 
continued until August 1889. 

He was a successful farmer, had been a member of the legislature, was a 
member of the M. E. Church, and in every way was an exemplary citizen. 

He had not been in service at the College many months before his students 
and a number of professors discovered that his knowledge of the science (not 
the art) of agriculture was very limited — too much so to command the re- 
spect of students, who began to chafe. Professor Johnson could not be made 
to see that no power of faculty or Board can keep order in the classes of a 
teacher unless that teacher himself can command the situation. 

Instead of leaving the discipline of students to the faculty, where by law 
it belongs, the members of the vState Board of Agriculture took the reins in 
hand, finally suspending eighteen seniors for a year and leaving matters in a 
deplorable condition — the College receiving hundreds of columns of dis- 
agreeable free advertising. This occurred during the administration of 
President Willits, who, one would suppose, would have long before taken 
some action to settle the difficulty by counselling the members of the State 
Board. 

The trouble between Professor Johnson and the students for many years 
led to increasing friction and finally resulted in a forced resignation of Pro- 
fessor E. J. McEwan, a very popular and thoroughly competent professor 
of English, also his assistant, H. R. Pattengill, a most capable man, later 
state superintendent of public instruction. 

After long delays, much discussion and the passing of some resolutions in 
support of Professor Johnson, the State Board of Agriculture in August, 
1889, demanded his resignation. 

In his final report in 1889, Professor Johnson thus recalls the improvements 
made during the ten years of his professorship of agriculture; the old cattle 
sheds had been remodeled, a grain barn had been built, and the first silo 
constructed. Other improvements included a new house for tools and im- 
plements; an experiment barn for feeding cattle; a water supply to the barns; 
a new iron bridge over the Cedar; a second silo; a sheep house for experiments; 
a grinding room in the barn; a large amount of tile laid; fields cleaned of 
stumps and stones; trees planted along the lane; a new road to the Trow- 
bridge station; the stock much improved. In fact, Professor Johnson 
thought the farm and its equipment were in almost perfect order. 

"In closing this my formal report as Professor of Agriculture," he says, 
"I desire to record my appreciation of the friendship and support of certain 
members of the Board of Agriculture. 



90 



History of Michigan agricultural college. 



"I have served the College ten of the best years of my life. I never asked 
for a vacation nor complained of overwork." 

In April, 1889, President Willits left his work after a period of about four 
years at the Mic-higan ('olleg(; to assume! th(» duties of assistant secretary of 
agriculture, a ])lace that had a jicculiar charm for him. His service in con- 
gress liad gained him many ac(iuaintances and given him valuable experiences. 
His new position also afforded him an o|)i)()rttmity to droj) some work at the 
('ollege tliat had Ix'come irksome. During the latter ))art of President 
Abbot's presidency when his health impaired his vigor, a committee of the 




FACULTY ISXi). 
President Willits, Kedzie, Riiiipsoii, Beal, MacEwaii, Reynolds, Carpenter, Taft, Cook, Grange, 

Johnson, Uurand. 



State Board, Henry Chamberlain, chairman, took mostly into its own hands 
the selection of professors and other emj^loyees, among whom were a number 
that w(>re not at all suited for the i)ositions they werc^ to occupy. Before 
accepting the position of president, Hon. ]<]dwin Willits did not have an 
"understanding" with the Board al)out this important matter, and the 
Board kept up the habit of making selections. To be plain about it, the 
president did not have the will power or backbone to assert his authority, 
and this method of control did not work to the advantage of the College. 
Though possessed of many strong points. President Willits did not have any 
atlequate conception of how to make or select a course of study. 



PRESIDENT CLUTE'S ADMINISTRATION. 



91 



CHAPTER VI. 

FRESIDENT CLUTE'S ADMINISTRATION. 

May, 1889— August, 1893. 

Oscar Clute, '62, was delighted to come in May, 1889, and take his place 
as t)resident of the Michigan Agricultural College, his alma mater, in place 
of President Willits, who was as much d(!lighted to take his departure. 

Tlien^ were in 1881), many changes in the faculty, some of which were very 




OSCAR CLUTE. 



unfortunate in their effect on the growth and prosperity of the College. The 
following resigned during this year: 

President Willits, Professor Johnson, Professor MacKvvan, Professor Pat- 
tengill, three of the twelve full professors; also Foreman H. T. French, and 
Instructor F. H. Hillman. 

The enrollment of students at the opening of the college year in 1889 was 
the largest ever in attendance; in 1890 the number was 3G9. Indeed, the 
college stream was steadily widening. There were twenty-five resident 
graduates in 1889; the number varied from year to year but reached its 
highest in 1891 and 1895, when there were thirty-seven graduates in at- 
tendance, after which the number rapidly dropped, probably for the reason 
that the; professors had all they could do to teach undergraduate students 



92 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



and conduct experiments, and did not advertise or make special prepara- 
tions for advanced students, who mostly went to some one of the universi- 
ties, such as Cornell, Illinois, University of Ohio, Purdue or Wisconsin. 

In his first report, October 31, 1889, President Glute briefly surveyed 
the field, noting improvements and changes: ''Its able professors and 
beautiful location make it a desirable place for a summer school, suggesting 
that there might be a summer camp in the drill hall." At the state fair a 
large and attractive exhibit made by a number of the departments, drew 
great crowds. The plan was outlined to expand the Veterinary department 
into a school giving graduates the degree of V. S. (Veterinary Surgeon). 

Professor E. Davenport, now Dean of the Agricultural College of the Uni- 
versity of Illinois, came in 1890 to be Professor of Agriculture in place of 
Samuel Johnson. His first report of his work is illuminating: 

1. Class room instruction to 175 students a year upon one of the most 
live but least understood subjects of human knowledge — agriculture. 




Entomological Laboratory. Built 1889 as first agricultural laboratory. 



3. A farm of 300 acres of cleared land, originally swamp lands. The 
extravagant expectations of this little farm are amusingly betrayed in the 
question often asked — 'Does the farm raise enough to feed all the students and 
sell enough to pay the professor's salaries?' 'Does the farm support the Col- 
lege?' is a question to be frequently answered. 

4. "Experimental inquiry after new truths and a perpetual still hunt 
after facts. 

7. "A large amount of clerical work, and many visitors to show about. 
This last is a great pleasure although it creates serious demands upon our 
time. 

"I would even have a Texas steer before his kind is gone forever, and when 
tired of him mount his skin as a specimen of a race of cattle going never to re- 
turn. The same might be applied with added force to that grand animal, 
the American bison. In a few years money will not buy what is yet within 
easy reach, and both afford an object lesson stronger than any lecture on the 
benefit to be secured by breeding and selection." 



PRESIDENT CLUTE'S ADMINISTRATION. 93 

During 1891, Professor Davenport took a leave of aljscncc for six months 
studying agriculture in the east and south. Improvement was made in the 
fielfls; the lane was graded; the mature timljer, mostly oak, was removed 
and sold. Professor Davenport had surveyed and drained plats for experi- 
ments which he had designed to carry on for a series of years.* He had 
shown unusual tact and skill in the work during the l)rief period of two years, 
but alas! he resigned to accept the presidency of the first agricultural school 
in South America, just as he had fairly got under way in plans for breeding 
cattle, for teaching students, for making experiments. This move may have 
l)een a good thing for South America, but agricultiu'e at M. A. C. dropped 
again to the foot of the ladder, where it would take a successor another two 
years to get fairly on his feet. 

These frequent changes of professors and instructors have been the severest 
hajidicaps which the College has had to meet. During 1890, for example, 
there were changes of ten professors and instructors. Among them, the 
College lost Professor R. C. Carpenter, who resigned to become professor 
of experimental engineering at Cornell; and Dr. Howard Edwards took the 
place of Dr. E. P. Anderson, resigned. 

THE YEAR 1890. 

The writer here summarizes some of the principle events of the year 1890, 
taken from the reports of the various departments. 

Professor Taft reported the pear orchard in excellent condition; the sweet 
cherries nearly all killed by severe winters, aided also by a stiff clay soil. 
The Professor carried out his belief which has become well substantiated by 
all good orchardists in Michigan, that no orchard should ever l)e permanently 
seeded down to grass. He cultivates thoroughly from early spring to about 
the first of August, weeds never troubling him. 

Professor A. G. Gulley took the place of Professor Charles S. Crandall 
as second man on the department. Dr. Kedzie for the department of 
chemistry made a short report stating he was holding his own, as he had for 
twenty-seven years past. 

Professor Cook appreciated his good helj) and told all readers about it l)ut 
he had a lurking suspicion based on past experience that he would not be 
able to keep assistants long unless the salaries were made higher. He was 
pleased with the increase in resident graduates and the good attendance of 
extra summer students. A fine addition to the insects, Orthoptera, had been 
received from Nebraska, and others from New York City and Wash- 
ington, also a generous gift by Senator McMillan of 10,000 species of insects. 
The professor published a small timely work on the silo. 

Professor Simpson, in charge of military drill, like his predecessor, recom- 
mended that discipline be given a value in the standing, and that a student 
be required to be proficient in discipline in order to graduate. All absences 
from required duties, unless the student be excused by competent authority, 
would then be looked after by those having charge of the discipline, and 
count against the standing of the student who would be marked according 
to his attention to or neglect of duty. 

1891. 

After the burning of the first botanical lalioratory, in 1890, the depart- 
ment was permitted to be th(> first occupant of the new first Agricultural 
*See inciex: Davenport Plats, 



94 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




PRESIDENT CLUTE'S ADMINISTRATION. 95 

Laboratory, which in that day of small things was considered fine. The 
professor of botany, now twenty years in the College, refers to the attendance 
of Yoshida, a resident graduate to study botany, advised to come here by a 
former able Japanese, Professor Kizo Tamari, a graduate student of 
botany, mostly studying fungi, who since has become the president 
of an agricultural college in his native country. Six persons, mostly in- 
structors at the College, were students in botany during the long winter 
vacation. 

Professor Carpenter is giving much time to the supply of good water, care 
of buildings, and also plans for heating. 

Professor Durand, in charge of the mechanical department, is giving 
much attention to installing a system of lighting the shops and other college 
buildings. The library building caught fire in two places on account of 
imperfect wiring. There is great need of a foundry, and more room and 
equipment, if we expect to keep pace with first class institutions. 

The florist, Louis Knapper, reports the attractions of greenhouses and 
flower grounds, and calls attention to the exhibit of greenhouse plants at the 
state fair. 

The librarian, Jane S. Sinclair, reports addition to the library and im- 
provements by way of making card catalogues; she comments on the absence 
of a work-room much needed — never yet (1913) provided, because an in- 
fluential man at the College would not hear to the request of Professor Mai;- 
Ewan — then having the library in charge, in addition to his teaching of 
English. 

The College is growing; the annual report contains statements from the 
president, secretary, professors of agriculture, horticulture, chemistry, 
zoology and entomology, botany and forestry, mathematics and engineering, 
veterinary, engineering, military, physics, drawing, history and political 
economy, the florist and the librarian. 

To keep within reasonable bounds, the writer is obliged to exercise more 
and more care in selecting items for the history of the College, scarcely re- 
ferring to the experiments and bulletins, and farmer's institutes which are 
doing so much for the people of the state. Sixty-nine numbered bulletins 
have now been printed, not to include the numerous reports of experiments 
previously made. 

Think, too, of the volumes swelling with va'.uable reports of farmers' 
institutes! 

Dr. Beal, about 1875, had planted many trees on the campus, usually 
putting them in thick for immediate effect with the view of thinning out 
gradually as the trees crowded. None too soon and none too thoroughly 
did Professor Taft attend to the thinning. He added a few new kinds of 
trees and, like Professor Bailey, added a considerable number of shrubs, 
much needed, but, like every new accession to care for the department, his 
plans were unlike those of his predecessor, and many of the groups of shrubs 
were taken up and set elsewhere, usually with some losses, again demon- 
strating the great expense and check in the progress of that kind of work at 
the College sure to follow a change of management. In 1891, Professor 
Taft as well as Professor Davenport spent some time in visiting colleges, 
inspecting greenhouses, a good plan for every new man, but again it takes 
time and is a temporary loss, especially noticeable if the new incumbent 
retains his place for only two or three years. 

Dr. Kedzie well observes, "The first duty of the teacher is in his class- 
room (field or garden). To hold students to thorough work, to inspire en- 



96 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



thusiasm in their studies, to induce scholarly habits and good principles, and 
thus fit them for life's work are the chief duties of a teacher. No kind or 
amount of outside work, however much it may attract public attention, can 
compensate for neglected classes and slighted work." In closing he says 
of chemistry at the C-ollege, as can be said as truly of several other depart- 
ments, "The chemical department has also served as a bureau of information 
to the public on a great variety of subjects, involving a good deal of work." 
Professor Cook was always a tremendous worker, inspiring great en- 




Bam for the Experiment Station. 



thusiasm among his students, and the work was right in line with what 
farmers needed. His department was surely a bureau of information. 

During the long winter vacation, the writer spent six weeks at Harvard 
studying their grasses, preparatory to his second volume of Grasses of North 
America. There is published in the report of the Board for this year Mich- 
igan Flora, prepared by W. J. Beal and C. F. Wheeler, consisting of 170 
pages with a full index. It includes a list of plants and notes pertaining 
to them. There is also much other matter of a miscellaneous character in 
th(> pamjihlet, which has l)een very highly complimented l)y a large number of 
botanists. 

Under the guidance of Professor Durand, the mechanical department, 
now called the engineering division, wa§ in a prosperou§ condition and 



PRESIDENT CLUTE'S ADMINISTRATION. 97 

well established for doing a valuable and needed work among such youth 
of the state as wish training in mechanical pursuits. 

THE YEAR 1892. 

In 1892, at the timely suggestion of President Clute, a considerable number 
of the professors report their methods of teaching, which is found in a portion 
of this volume. 

Discussion is going on regarding the introduction of special short courses, 
sure to come in a few years. Considering the great improvement in the 
courses of Michigan schools, the president thinks it high time this College 
raise its requirements for admission; he also thinks it time this College should 
have a well equipped dairy school. These valuable suggestions show that 
Pre'feident Clute is alert for the growth of the institution. 

Mrs. Stanley Potter of South Haven is busily engaged in prejiaring a 
large collection of wax models of fruits and vegetables to be exhibited in 
Chicago next year, with the understanding that the specimens shall return to 
the College for future care and keeping. 

Professor Durand drops his work in the mechanical department and goes 
to Cornell University; he is succeeded by Professor L. P. Breckenridge, 
another most competent man. 

During the year 1892 the botanic garden is nearly doubled in area, in 
all now consisting of three acres. A large portion of the notes from Dr. 
Beal's report appears elsewhere under "Methods of Teaching." A very full re- 
port is made this year of the lengthy ceremony in laying the "corner stone" 
of the second botanical laboratory placed in laboratory row. 

Dr. Edwards emphasizes the importance of a thorough course in the study 
of the English language at this College: 

"To sum up the matter, then, EngUsh study is of value because it under- 
lies and makes possible the acquisition of all other knowledge; because it 
tends to preserve the language in a state of greatest effectiveness; l^ecause 
it enables a man to have greater and wider influence with his fellow men ; be- 
cause it cultivates simplicity, clearness, accuracy, consecutiveness of thought; 
because it improves in a new and important direction the observation and 
the judgment; because it forms the character." 

In his report Professor Vedder covers six pages on the utility and educa- 
tional value of mathematics, quoting eminent men in confirmation of his 
views. 

Professor E. A. Lewis speaks well of the educational value of military 
science and tactics, while Professor Holdsworth makes clear his correct 
methods of teaching drawing. We should expect nothing short of this, 
as he was well trained for four years at this College. The same is true of 
Professor Woodworth, another man who has been impressed in correct 
methods by four years of study at M. A. C. 

President Clute resigns, August 30, in poor health, and at once accepts 
the presidency of Florida Agricultural College. 
13 



98 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




FACULTY 1890. 
Ivedzie, Durana, Davenport, Carpenter, Grange, Simpson, President Clute. Taft, Beal, E. P. Anderson. 

Cook, Reynolds. 



PRESIDENT GORTON'S ADMINISTRATION. 



99 



CHAPTER VII. 

PRESIDENT Gorton's administration. 

1893-1895. 

When Oscar Clute resigned the presidency of the College on August 30, 
1^3, in poor health, and accepted the presidency of the Florida Agricultural 
College, Lewis G. Gorton was selected to take his place. President Gorton 
was 33 years old at the time, had been graduated from the Chelsea high 




LEWIS G. GORTON. 

school and from the state normal at Ypsilanti and had taught for some years 
in various schools and at the Michigan Military Academy at Orchard Lake. 
At the time he was chosen president of the College he had been principal of 
the Bishop school, Detroit, for seven years. He was a tall, powerfully built 
man. He had had no experience in college work; no knowledge of agri- 
cultural education and soon found his task a heavy one. 

The year 1893 was distinguished for numerous marked changes in the 
faculty. Not only was there a change in the presidency, but P. M. Harwood, 
Professor of Agriculture, resigned August 20th, and was succeeded by Profes- 
sor Clinton D. Smith; Professor Breckenridge departed for the University of 



100 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Illinois and was succeeded by C. L. Weil as head of the engineering depart- 
ment; Professor A. J. Cook, after a connection with the College as student, 
teacher and professor for thirty-six years, left for California, Professor W. B. 
Barrows taking his place; Assistant Professor N. D. Corbin dropped history 
and political economy, James N. McBride assuming control for one year, 
when W. 0. Hedrick took up the work. 

Five important places were thus vacated and filled by new men, where 
there were only thirteen professorships — changes too numerous and im- 
portant for anything like stability of management. On account of these 
changes, the College dropped back again. 

But in spite of changes the two years of President Gorton's service were 
years of much activity in all branches of the college work. In 1893, the 
College made a fine exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. 

Largely through the initiative of Mr. Chamberlain of the State Board, 




First boiler house built 1894. 



some 40,000 feet of artificial walk was laid, a great improvement long mucii 
needed; a foundry was built at the shops; a portion of the gallery was built 
in the library; a small hospital was begun. Professor Taft directed the 
rebuilding of the dam in Cedar river and the preparation of a card index of 
the trees in the orchards. The botanical department, after three years 
without a home, was at last installed in the new laboratory ; Professor Vedder 
prepared a small map of the grounds and farm. 

An important feature of the year was the publication by Professor A. J. 
Cook of bulletin No. 94, entitled Birds of Michigan, illustrated, and oc- 
cupying 264 pages in the report of the secretar}^ of the State Board of Agri- 
culture. 

Perhaps the most important single event of President Gorton's adminis- 
tration was the beginning of the short-course movement, long advocated, but 
not till then realized. This was due largely to the energy of Professor Clinton 
D. Smith. He fitted up a small room in the basement of the agricultural 
laboratory and here in 1894 the first short-course classes of twenty-seven 
students were held for six weeks in January and February. 



PRESIDENT GORTON'S ADMINISTRATION. IQI 

The same year also saw the beginning of the laboratory work in dairying — 
and none too soon. 

During 1894 Professor Weil directed many changes and improvements in 
the woodshop and blacksmith shop. The professor of botany gave much 
time to the preparation of a general catalogue of all persons ever connected 
with the College, and this work was kept going until published in June, 
1900; the State Academy of Science was organized at the university with 
W. J. Beal the first president; Professor Vedder added sewers and drains 
in a number of places and recorded maps of these lines for future reference. 
The superintendent of the farm reported the arrival and extension upon the 
farm of numerous weeds, and great numbers of experiments were conducted 
with a varying degree of thoroughness and value. 

The year 1895 is memorable for the fact that no professors resigned nor 
were any elected; several assistants and instructors resigned and others were 
selected to take their places. 

During this year there was published a neat and accurate map of the 
botanic garden drawn by B. 0. Longyear, including a list of the plants it 
contained. This was the second time that a map had been prepared and a 
list printed; the professor of botany added largely to the herbarium which 
in that year contained 54,000 specimens. 

During the year a temporary lighting system for the campus was com- 
pleted by Professor Wood worth. Dr. Edwards reported that his depart- 
ment of English was hampered by the gradual crowding of the course through 
the insertion here and there of additional work in other departments. 

In 1895 the College had to meet another change in its presidency. For 
some time President Gorton's usefulness to the College had been diminishing 
and in December that year his resignation was demanded by the Board. 

The chairman of the Board, Hon. C. J. Monroe, reported: "We have 
carefull}^ weighed and added together the numerous things which have 
come to us, through personal observation and other trustworthy channels, 
and believe their sum forms ample grounds to warrant our action in asking 
his resignation." 

The Grange Visitor, Kenyon L. Butterfield, editor, had this to say of 
President Gorton's resignation in the issue of Dec. 5, 1895: 

"The difficulty regarding President Gorton at the Agricultural College 
seems to have been one of misplaced judgment. We have nothing personal 
against Mr. Gorton, but in our opinion he was not at all fitted for the position 
of president of the College, the protestations of several city newspapers to 
the contrary notwithstanding. The chief blame that can be attached to the 
action of the Board of Agriculture consists : 1st, in ever having chosen Presi- 
dent Gorton; 2d, in not dismissing him a year and a half ago when they must 
have known that he was not the man needed; 3d, a mistake in policy in not 
putting before the public a few cogent reasons why he has not given satis- 
faction. It is probable that the members of the Board themselves see and 
own their mistakes. But all this talk about 'autocracy and desire on the part 
of a few of the faculty to become president,' and that sort of thing, is the 
sheerest nonsense." 

It was surprising but gratifying to the friends of the College to know 
that these troubles did not cause a decrease in the number of students, though 
doubtless they did prevent a rapid increase. 



102 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

PRESIDENT SN\T)ER's ADMINISTRATION. 



1896—. 



Since the administration of President Willits, Clute and Gorton had each 
been of short duration, the Board of Agriculture sought a young man who 
should prove well adapted to the position and who should serve the college 
for many years. Their choice finally fell upon Jonathan LeMoyne Snyder 
who was elected president of the college at the Board meeting held in Grand 




JONATHAN L. SNYDER. 



Rapids, February 11, 1896, and assumed the duties of the office in April. 
He was at that time thirty-seven years old. 

He completed a graduate course at Westminister College in 1891 and 
received the degree of Ph. D. In 1908 Michigan University bestowed upon 
him the degree of LL. D. 

During the administrations of Presidents Abbot, Willits and Clute, faculty 
meetings had been held once a week and cases of discipline attended to by 
the entire faculty, but in 1897 under the new administration, this policy 
was abandoned and meetings held only on the first Monday of each month, 



t^RESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 103 

except that special meetings sometimes became frequent and of long con- 
tinuance. 

Consent of the faculty was obtained to leave cases of discipline to be de- 
cided by a special committee for each case appointed by the president, a 
plan which saved much time to most members of the faculty and worked 
well. 

Another change introduced by President Snyder which met with approval 
was the calling together, about once a month, of all the teachers of freshmen, 
sophomores and juniors that they might compare notes on the quality of 
work done by each student especially students of low grade. 

President Snyder chronicles further changes in the policy of the institution 
in his first report, June 30, 1897 : 

"Soon after taking charge of the College three very important and some- 
what radical changes were made in the policy of the institution, namely: 
the long vacation was changed from the winter to the summer months. 
A course for young women was outlined and adopted and Abbot Hall set 
apart for their exclusive use; it was decided to offer four special six-week 
courses during the winter. These changes had been under consideration 
for several years and seemed to meet the approval of the faculty, as well as 
many influential citizens of the state." 

The change of the long vacation from winter to summer was an important 
one. Of this Professor C. D. Smith said in the 1897 report: 

"For the first time the long vacation has been moved from the winter to 
the summer, and I have to report the effect of the change on the work of this 
department. By reason of this change this report will cover the work of four 
terms, namely, the closing term of the college year ending in August, 1896, 
as well as the three terms of the present college year. 

"The change of the long vacation from winter to summer renders it difficult 
for members of the faculty to attend the institutes without neglecting the 
class work. On the other hand, to keep in touch with the lives and experience 
of practical farmers it is absolutely necessary that those teachers that have 
to do with the instruction in practical farm work should attend these meet- 
ings and become acquainted with the thought of the people." 

One of the chief events of the year 1897, following President Snyder's 
arrival was the celebration, June 17, of the anniversary exercises commemo- 
rating the 40th year of the College. 

In order to give as clear an idea as may be of President Snyder's adminis- 
tration, the chief events are reported from year to year: 

In 1898, after trying for two years the plan of having the long vacation 
in summer and of admitting women, to take the course in home economics 
established for them, President Snyder reported that the judgment of the 
State Board had been vindicated in introducing these two changes. 

The legislature granted $5,000.00 for installing electric lights at the 
College, an amount by no means sufficient to equip a plant for that purpose. 
As a makeshift, a dynamo was purchased and a contract made with A. A. 
Piatt of Lansing to conduct light and a limited amount of power from his 
dam on Grand river, five miles distant. 

This year the street car line was extended to the new terminal on the 
campus. The cars reached the College on the installment plan; for a time 
the track stopped on Michigan avenue at the city limits, later it went to 
the "big stone" and turned into the race track; about 1895 it was extended 
to the west entrance of the College; April 15, 1896, a committee of the faculty, 
in accordance with recommendations of the Board, urged the company to 



104 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE^. 

extend the track to the hospital, but not to enter the campus owing to a 
strong objection of one member of the State Board. Finally in 1898, the 
ears landed people on the campus, where the college built a small waiting 
room, after a while wires were strung over the track. May-pole style, to 
permit cars to turn about conveniently. 

The first series of excursions by railroad was inaugurated through the 
efforts of K. L. Butterfield, all trains landing visitors near the boiler house 
on the spur of road controlled by the owners of the Pere Marquette Railroad. 
The results were very gratifying and similar excursions during August were 
continued every year, closing in 1911, when, for some reason, the railroads 
were not willing to continue excursions to the College. 

Mr. Butterfield also devised other schemes for advertising the College; 
by distributing 5,000 college calendars, 10,000 copies of a college almanac 
or year book, 18,000 catalogues, thousands of copies of circulars and many 
special editions of the M. A. C. Record; by advertising in papers and maga- 
zines, agricultural, religious, educational; by sending personal letters to a 
certain select number of persons. Select lists of families containing children 
of college age were obtained by several devices; quantities of "documents" 
were placed on the tables where farmer's institutes were held. These efforts 
had the desired effect in the advent of more students. The number of 
students this year was close to 500. The number of books in the Library 
was 25,600. 

Dr. Beal called attention to what the College had done toward a botanical 
survey; in publishing a Ust of plants of the state, a list of honey plants, a 
list of trees and shrubs adapted for use about a home, and lists of weeds, 
native and imported and in making observations and for collecting specimens. 

Prof. W. 0. Hedrick was absent six months in Europe studying conditions 
in England and Germany. 

The reader must not forget that the work of the experiment station was 
broadening, growing in interest and importance. 

K. L. Butterfield, Superintendent of Farmers' Institutes, reported: "From 
whatever standpoint we view the subject, the past season, 1897-98, of in- 
stitute work is by far the most successful ever held in Michigan" notwith- 
standing the appropriation by the legislature was only $5,500. On August 
18, "A Farmers' Day was held at Bay View" giving good satisfaction. 

The results of the Round-up-Institute held at the College were beyond 
our anticipations. "Never before in the history of Michigan has there been 
so large a body of representative farmers sitting for the same length of time 
and discussing such a variety of practical topics bearing on the industry of 
agriculture." 

For 1899 the reports of president and professors were unusually short, 
perhaps for the reason that those of the previous year were unusually full. 

The president reports the • legislature very generous, granting $134,000, 
mostly for buildings. In some states this amount of money would be con- 
sidered small. 

The growing of sugar beets in Michigan is attracting a good deal of at- 
tention. 

While Professor A. J. Cook was a professor of this College, apiculture 
received much attention, but since his departure the interest had lagged and 
had been fluctuating. J. W. Rankin, apiarist at this time made a report 
in which he stated: "The lesson learned this year was that bees will winter 
successfully only in a perfect cellar, and if such a cellar is not available, 
they should be wintered out of doors." 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 105 

In his report for the year closing June 30, 1900, President Snyder spoke 
of the increase of students — about one hundred more this year than the 
preceding — total 627. This year there was a triennial meeting of the alumni 
on June 14. The improvements reported were many, including a building 
for women, and a dairy building. 

Herbert W. Mumford, '91, was appointed Professor of Agriculture and 
Superintendent of the College farm, Professor C. D. Smith remaining Di- 
rector of the Experiment Station and adding Superintendent of Farmers' 
Institutes, College Extension Lecturer and Dean of the Special Courses. 
June 1, 1899, U. P. Hedrick, '93, was elected Professor of Horticulture and 
Landscape Gardening and Superintendent of the grounds. The position 
of Professor L. R. Taft was changed to that of Superintendent of Farmers' 
Institutes and State Inspector of orchards and nurseries, beginning July 
1,*1902. No man ever at the College was called on so often to speak in 
different portions of the state as Professor C. D. Smith, especially concerning 
the dairy and sugar beets. 

During the year closing June 30, 1901, the woman's building was com- 
pleted. President Snyder planned an elaborate program for the dedication 
on October 25, calling out the state federation of women's clubs, members 
of the grange and farmers' clubs. The lectures given were varied, appro- 
priate and most interesting, closing with a banquet and toasts. (See Woman's 
Building. See also Dairy Building which was ready this year.) 

A college hospital containing seven rooms and two bath rooms was built 
in 1894 at a cost of about $3,500. This hospital, until the beginning of 
1900 was occupied by different persons, sometimes college employes, who 
were expected to take care of students when ill. At no time was the service 
altogether satisfactory. In 1900 Miss Rowena Ketchum, a trained nurse, 
was employed and placed in charge, where she still remains, (1913), giving 
excellent satisfaction. 

The State Board and faculty were much gratified with the act of the legis- 
lature granting the College a permanent income of 1-10 of a mill on the taxes 
collected for the state. (See Endowment). Much credit was due Hon. B. 
A. Nevins, 74, for his energy in securing the passage of the bill. The state 
board of health, the live stock commission and the State Board of Agri- 
culture united and urged that the Agricultural College should crowd the 
work of investigating contagious diseases of animals begun in 1897. For 
this work, C. E. Marshall was put in charge of bacteriology and hygiene. 

H. W. Mumford, Professor of Agriculture, urged that plans be made for 
giving more attention to dairying and farm crops, two subjects of great 
importance long neglected at this College. 

The Professor of Horticulture, L. R. Taft, impressed with the age, large 
size and crowded condition of trees on the campus, in places took out many 
specimens to save other trees and open up fine views on the campus. 

Dr. Kedzie laid stress on plans for training some students who wished to 
prepare themselves for chemical work in connection with the beet-sugar 
industry of our state. 

Dr. Beal mentioned the importance and care of two and two-tenths acres 
of white pine at the east extremity of the farm planted in 1896. He pub- 
lished a second list of the trees and shrubs growing on the campus for use of 
students in botany, forestry and landscape gardening. 

Dr. Edwards called attention to the great amount of time recjuired of 
him in editing the M. A. C. Record striving to make it newsy, bright and 
suggestive. 



106 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Miss Maud R. Keller referred to moving into the new woman's building 
as one of the most important events of the year and one full of promise. 

During the year closing June 30, 1902, at the earnest request of the Di- 
rector of Physical Culture, G. E. Denman, the Board authorized a bath 
house adjoining the armory and began work on the athletic field across the 
river. (See Athletics) . 

A fifth year was prefixed to the course of study which students of the 
eighth grade could enter; graduates of approved high schools were admitted 
to the freshman class without examination, on the same terms as those on 
which they were admitted to the university. 

The total attendance on the average had been increasing each year — - 
this year it was 689. 

At the fat stock show at Chicago in 1901, M. A, C. distinguished herself 
both in the student contests and in the show of stock, taking three firsts, 
two seconds and three third prizes for live stock, one of which was the grand 
championship for dressed carcasses taken by Elm Park Lad, a registered 
Aberdeen Angus steer shown against forty-nine competitors. 

Professor Barrows referred to an act of great merit, viz: a case of insects 
accompanied by a descriptive pamphlet presented to each high school in the 
state, about one hundred in number. Each collection contained about 
seventy-five specimens of the more common and interesting insects of the 
state clearly labeled. These collections were enthusiastically received by 
the schools. (See Extension Work). 

The reports for the year closing June 30, 1903, refer to important changes 
in the faculty, Robert S. Shaw becoming professor of agriculture in place 
of H. W. Mumford, who went to Illinois University for a much higher salary; 
Assistant Professor George Humphrey becoming professor of animal in- 
dustry in Wisconsin University. Dr. R. C. Kedzie died the 7th of November 
and was succeeded by his son, Frank S.; C. F. Wheeler, after ten years as 
assistant professor of botany, joined the U. S. Department of Agriculture 
to identify plants; Prof. E. E. Bogue became professor of forestry; J. A. 
Jeffery became professor of soil physics. Students increased this year, 
in all numbering 854. 

U. P. Hedrick was active during his first year as professor of horticulture, 
repairing and changing the horticultural laboratory, planting trees and 
shrubs about new buildings, tearing down the vegetable house Ijuilt to decide 
which is preferable for heating, steam or hot water; bracing up the steep 
river bank near the President's house and organizing a horticultural club. Dr. 
Marshall moved into the spacious new bacteriological laboratory. By 
enlarging the sections and shortening the periods, the botanical department 
continued to get along with the same teaching force, omitting plant physio- 
logy for want of a suitable room. 

In forestry. Professor Bogue was active in starting a large nursery and 
planting the cut-over wood lots, making much use of locust trees. Professor 
Barrows was active in preparing an account of the birds of Michigan. As the 
trees grew, more birds were yearly nesting on the campus. Major C. A. 
Vernou continued to call attention to the unfortunate hour for military drill, 
5 to 6 P. M.; Professor Taft mentioned the rapid extension of the San Jose 
scale and prescribed spraying with arsenate of lead when the leaves have 
dropped. 

In the year closing June 30, 1904, the number of students reached 917, 
and^this notwithstanding the fact that some timid souls had feared the 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



107 



number would drop if the requirements for entering college were raised to 
equal those of the university. 

It was also gratifying to notice that students with better preparation 
made better progress'at the College and having taken time to prepare for the 




work, a smaller per cent of them gave up and dropped out. With the advent 
of more students, there was an increasing clamor for more teachers and more 
class rooms and for more money to meet these demands. It was becoming 
the rule to require some classes to attend laboratories during Saturday fore- 
noons. 

With the more thorough preparation for entering, it was found that a 



108 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

fifteen year old boy or girl was too young to undertake college work as a 
freshman, though Harvard many years before had graduated students at 
that age. 

For the first time the students and faculty subscribed the money for and 
employed a secretary to take the lead of the work of the Y. M. C. A. 

This year the death of Hon. Franklin Wells should be mentioned, since 
he served as a member of the Board of Agriculture for thirty j^ears, during 
most of this time as president. 

Professor Shaw gave close attention to making improvements in the 
various kinds of live stock, not including horses, goats, hens, and bees. The 
stands of corn in three fields attested the importance of rational modern 
methods in saving seed corn. 

A small model, iron-frame greenhouse Avas put on the south side of the 
horticultural laboratory chiefly for work in plant breeding. Picnics con- 
tinued to increase in number, Sunday schools claiming that they have just 
as much right to come as the farmers. 

Another edition of the Michigan Flora, prepared by Dr. Beal, was printed 
in the proceedings of the State Academy of Science and the State 
Board took 2,000 extra copies, for distribution to students and others. 
Popular bulletins were prepared for the use of reading courses, called for by 
granges of the state; the professor of botany preparing two on grasses, the 
professor of agronomy preparing two on farm crops. 

The following note 'is from the M. A. C. Record of May 24, 1904: 

"On Thursday evening the M. A. C. chorus. Miss Louise Freyhofer, 
director, presented Haydn's Oratorio, 'The Creation,' to a large, interested 
and appreciative audience. In undertaking this work the chorus found 
itself confronted by artistic and financial difficulties, but before the evening 
was over, both problems were solved satisfactorily. Certainly the organiza- 
tion deserves great credit for affording such an opportunity, which comes 
but too rarely to Lansing and college people. 

''But after all is said, the one deserving of most credit and most praise 
is the director, Miss Freyhofer, on whom has rested all the responsibility 
and who has been able to keep together, for the past eight months, a chorus 
of seventj^-five comparatively untrained voices, — a task by no means easy." 

The Dean of the Women's Department, Miss Maude Gilchrist, was ap- 
pointed expert in charge of household economics at the Louisiana Purchase 
Exposition. The botanical department made a fine exhibit of grasses and 
grains. 

Dr. C. E. Marshall made an extended report of his work in bacteriology 
and hygiene, including details of instructions given and descriptions and 
illustrations of the new laboratory and some of the apparatus, — much at- 
tention was given to bacteria of the dairy and the soil. 

In view of the fact that during the year serious effort had been made to 
diminish the time devoted to English, Dr. Edwards took the opportunity 
to discuss at length the relation of English work to the curriculum of our 
College. 

Professor H. K. Vedder was emphatic in his report urging the need of more 
rooms for the many classes in mathematics and engineering; the report of 
the Chemist, Prof. F. S. Kedzie continued in much the same strain and the 
professor of botany might well have done likewise. "So say we all of us." 

C. D. Smith, dean of the special courses, was gratified with the growing 
interest and the increasing attendance from year to year, the number attend- 
ing being 166. He suggested the propriety of offering a much longer course 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



109 



of study, l^eginiiing late in October, students to go home at Christmas for a 
week and then return to remain for most of January, February and March. 
On looking forward to the fall of 1913, the reader will see that this suggestion 
was then adopted. The six weeks' course was too short. Our short courses 
were showing a marked effect on the quality of butter and cheese produced 
in the state. 




Boiler house for steam heating and electricity. Chimney 125 feet high. 

The mailing list for bulletins now approached 40,000 names. The reader 
is again reminded of the growth and extent of experiments pertaining to 
agriculture. 

The reports for 1905 show the attendance steadily on the increase, this 
year passing the one-thousand mark. The new water system cost about 
$9,000. On February 11, Wells Hall was destroyed by fire, the fire probably 
catching through the carelessness of some member of a society having rooms 
in the building. 



110 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Some of the cut-over forest has l)eeii restocked with white ash. Fifteen 
courses are now offered in horticulture. 

The cold-storage building was this year remodeled and the Cooper system 
installed, now working well. 

The report of the condition of the botanic garden was this year unusually 
full of quotations of the comments made by visitors. 

An artesian well was drilled 177 feet deep by Packard and Edgerton, to 
furnish water for the botanic garden. It did good service for a time but in 
later years gradually failed. 

Compliments flowed in for the efficiency of Miss Ketchum in care of the 
hospital. 

For many years past students at the College had won victories too num- 
erous to record here in athletics, in oratory, in judging live stock and corn, 
in judging fruits and flowers, and in shearing sheep. I mention one example. 
Mr. E. S. Bartlett, a freshman in the five-year agricultural course, won 
the 125 dollars trophy offered in the sheep-shearing contest, college class, 
at the St. Louis Exposition on October 13, 1904 

The cup was won easily in four minutes and eighteen seconds. It was not 
a speed contest only, there ])eing six conditions to be observed, as follows: 
1, speed; 2, skillful manner of handling both the machine and the sheep; 3, 
the appearance of the sheep after shearing; 4, the condition of the fleece; 
5, the number of cuts in the wool; 6, the cuts or scratches on the l^ody of the 
sheep. 

Mr. Bartlett was also entered in the "free for all" with five professional 
competitors. In this class he won fourth place, shearing his sheep in three 
minutes and two seconds. 

During the year closing June 30, 1906, farmers' institutes were becoming 
more and more popular, this year 73 two-day institutes were held and 200 
one-day institutes; the ajipropriation of $7,500 was not sufficient to pay for 
holding all that were asked for. 

For making experiments, the State of Michigan had for some years sup- 
plemented the funtls received from the general government, to the extent 
of about $9,000 annually. The northern peninsula and South Haven sub- 
stations were being supported entirely by the College. The expense of 
publishing the station bulletin is annually about $4,000 and is borne by the 
College. 

A popular addition to extension work was begun this year in the form 
of "railroad institutes," which were held during the month of April in co- 
operation with the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and the Michigan 
Central railroads, thirty being held upon the former line and seventeen upon 
the latter. Each road furnished a special train consisting of two passenger 
coaches and one baggage car, stopping from one hour to an hour and a quarter 
at each meeting. (See the chapter on Extension work). 

President Snyder referred to the shortage in the supply of competent men 
and women to lecture at institutes since the number of conventions had be- 
come so large. He referred again to the pressing need of several buildings 
always sure to follow an increase in the number of students. 

Dr. Beal, in '05, was authorized to visit four botanic gardens for the pur- 
pose of studying plants and methods of management, also to secure by ex- 
change, desirable specimens not now in our garden. The herbarium had 
been steadily growing for many years and at this time, contained a total 
of 102,000 specimens — by far the best herbarium in Michigan. 

The professor of horticulture (Fletcher) introduced a change in the method 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



Ill 



of instruction by giving each student during his atten(hince a plat of ground 
on which he should plant and tend a tj^pical home garden. So far as it goes 
this is worth while, but the long summer vacation and the shifting of students 
in the fall term sadly interferes with the completion of this plan. In the 
frequent changes of the teaching force, if every new man had the experience 




and knew what his predecessors had accomplished, how valuable it would 
be to students and the reputation of the College! He called attention to 
the need of greenhouses with benches to accommodate more students who 
apply for work. 

Instruction for short course students was becoming steadily more popular, 
this year plans having been made to give a second and more advanced course. 



112 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



C. L. Brewer, Director of Physical Culture, suggested that all students, at 
least for a portion of their attendance at college, be required to take work 
in gymnasium or its equivalent, since a large majority of the physically weak 
who need the work most, do not elect to take any athletics. If a well equipped 
gymnasium were available this want could be more easily met. 

W. 0. Hedrick, Professor of History and Economics, reported somewhat 
at length on the different methods employed by teachers of such subjects 
and discussed the question as to whether to set students to learning a text- 
book or to teach them to gather much of this information from original 
sources. The subject of political science, he beUeved, should not be taught 
after the modern method of teaching botany and zoology, which is passing 
from the part to the whole, but rather by the reverse method. 




ll(jift,_- biini 



R. S. Shaw, Professor of Agriculture, during the year showed his skill, 
and probably took great delight, in shifting the old barns to new sites, re- 
pairing them and building new ones, clearing the way for the great fire-proof 
agricultural laboratory. 

In 1906 the College installed an automatic telephone system of its own 
connected with the Citizens' telephone of Lansing. It was in August, 1881, 
that the College had been first connected with Lansing by telephone, with two 
instruments, one in the office of the secretary and one in the steward's rooms. 

The new system, which also has a fire alarm arrangement, has proved very 
convenient and a saving of much time to all persons in the circuit. In 1913, 
the College operated, in various offices, 180 telephones, all connecting with 
the Citizens' telephone of Lansing. 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



113 



In 1906 a stone road fifteen feet wide was constructed extending from the 
city limits to the township Hne. Of the total cost of $12,800 the College 
paid twenty per cent, the state paid $1,000 per mile and the rest was paid 
by subscription. The distance is a few feet over two miles. In later years, 
the road became very defective for want of proper construction and care. 

President Snyder, in his report for 1906, says: "The opinion of the faculty 
is practically unanimous that this College should retain in its courses certain 
general culture studies, such as English, history, political economy, etc. It 
does not look with favor upon the free elective system adopted by some 
distinguished agricultural schools, which makes it possible for a student to 
gain the bachelor's degree without mathematics beyond the rudiments of 
arithmetic, or without pursuing even to a limited extent those culture studies 




PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT. 



which give to the student a degree of ease in expressing his own thoughts, 
and a fair appreciation of the great fields of knowledge that lie outside his 
own narrow profession." 

A few seniors in home economics were given one term in household dairying. 

During the state fairs, arrangements were made by the College and by the 
state grange to give lectures and demonstrations on certain topics, some- 
times in tents surrounded by crowds of people called together by auctioneers. 
The results have not been very satisfactory, the people in attendance pre- 
ferring to wander about from place to place for amusement and for picking 
up an occasional hint on something new. 

The eleventh annual report of institutes, an edition of 9,000 volumes, 
was pubhshed. 

The great event of the year closing June 30, 1907, was the celebration 
of the semi-centennial of the existence of the College. May 13th, the actual 
15 



114 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



anniversary of the dedication was too early in the season for the comfort 
of those in attendance and it seemed better to choose a date nearer com- 
mencement. 

From Wednesday, the 29th to Friday, the 31st, the program of the 
meetings included the following: the College and the State; the Builders of the 
College; Mendelssohn's Oratorio, Elijah; American Association of Agricul- 
tural Colleges; American Association of Experiment Stations; Society for the 
Promotion of Agricultural Science; the alumni day of the College; National 
Memorial Day; evening parade and jubilee; exercises by students; con- 
gratulatory address; commencement exercises; address of the President of 
the United States, Theodore Roosevelt; conferring of degrees; society ban- 
quets. 

After the college year had been changed to bring the long vacation in sum- 




Barns and bilos for beef cattle. 



mer, the work on the farm, in the departments of horticulture, botany and 
entomology, was not so satisfactory for students as it was when the long 
vacation came in the winter. Professor S. W. Fletcher in his report for 1907 
suggested that the only really satisfactory solution of the problem was to 
require horticultural students to stay at the college for a summer session 
of six to eight weeks during at least one of the summer vacations. This 
plan was begun in the summer of 1911, by the agricultural department. 

The greenhouse, the second one built at the College, erected on a knoll 
south and east of the botanic garden was designed for serving the purpose 
of aiding l^otany as well as horticulture, as Dr. Beal at that time was oc- 
cupying two chairs. Gradually since that time the use of the house has 
drifted more and more to that of horticulture. Professor Fletcher thought 
the greenhouses should be used for purposes of instruction and investigation 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



115 



rather than for display to entertain visitors. The professor wished to have 
every horticultural student assigned to a strip or greenhouse bench or bed on 
which he would be expected to grow certain crops and make certain ex- 
periments the last two years of his course. 

Most of the states with a large population were supplementing the $30,000 
given by the United States government for conducting experiments by the ad- 
dition of a varying amount up to $109,000 or more a year. This year Michigan 
added about $40,000. The writer is perpetually tempted to run over the 
line and say something concerning experiments at the College, noting topics 
Uke these: studying remedies for hog epidemics; the role of bacteria in the 




Hospital for diseased animals. 



soil; new strains of alfalfa in Michigan; experiments in growing corn showing 
that the appearance of the ear saved for seed often has little to do with the 
yield secured. 

For this year closing June 30, 1908, the writer calls attention to a few items 
in the reports. The celebration the year before of the semi-centennial, began 
to show results in the form of first-class advertising. 

During the week of commencement, this year. Dr. R. C. Carpenter, '73, 
Professor of Experimental Engineering, Cornell University, gave the dedica- 
tory address on the completion of the new engineering building. 

Two deaths. Professor Bogue and Professor Holdsworth and two resigna- 



116 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

tions, Director CD. Smith and Dr. S. W. Fletcher, took four out of twenty, 
one-fifth of the teaching members from the faculty. 

Walter Hiram French was this year placed at the head of the new depart- 
ment of agricultural education. For six years he had been the very effi- 
cient deputy superintendent of public instruction and had become well 
acquainted with public schools and their needs throughout the state. 

Assistant Professor Halligan of the horticultural department referred to 
a very undesirable condition of things on our beautiful campus then be- 
coming more and more apparent each year, viz., the old lawns were rapidly 
becoming thin and infested with unsightly weeds. See the topic Campus. 

In 1908 an important change was made in the method of selecting members 
of the Board of Agriculture. Instead of the governor, with the consent of the 
senate, appointing the members, the new constitution, ratified in 1908, pro- 
vided that "There shall be elected on the first Monday in April, nineteen 
hundred nine, a state board of agriculture to consist of six members, two of 





.^^^^ 




H 


: ^ji 


i 




. . =1 



Slaughter house. 

whom shall hold office for two years, two for four years and two for six years. 
At every regular biennial spring election thereafter, there shall be elected two 
members whose term of office shall be six years. The members thus elected 
and their successors in office shall be a body corporate to be known as 'The 
State Board of Agriculture.' " 

By some oversight or deception by state officers, the state treasury in 
1908-1909 was "overdrawn" because the assessments for taxes were made 
too small. For this reason the Agricultural College asked for no appropria- 
tions, relying for supi3ort on the mill tax and appropriations from the federal 
government. 

An addition to the botanical laboratory was made costing $12,000, while 
the original building cost only $10,000. Owing to the crowding of the dairy 
building on the south and the bacteriology laboratory on the north, the 
addition cut off much of the light, nearly spoiling one of the rooms in the 
main building. The addition furnished five rooms and cut off one, thus in- 
creasing rooms by four. 

President Snyder enumerated a large number of pressing wants. Es- 
pecially had the buildings failed to provide suitable conveniences for the in- 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



117 



creased number of students — a wail that the reader has become accustomed 
to not only from the president but from the members of the faculty all along 
the line in the reports of the heads of all departments, not only for a single 
year but usually for many years. 

The Dean of Agriculture referred with pride to the work of W. F. Raven 
in organizing stock breeders' associations among the dairymen of the state; 
to the increased number of students in the short courses; to the experimental 
union among over 200 farmers for testing grains, etc., under instruction. 
He went into details regarding the newly established departments of the 
agricultural division. They were as follows: 




Manure shed. 



C. 

d. 
e. 



Department of Dairy Husbandry. 
Department of Animal Husbandry. 

1. Beef Cattle. 

2. Farm Horses. 

3. Sheep. 

4. Swine. 

Department of Poultry. 
Department of Soils. 
Department of Farm Mechanics. 



A little later Dean Shaw may have felt chagrined when three leaders out 
of five in his departments left him for places where the salary was higher, 
and these departments began again to climl) from the bottom of the ladder. 

Professor Eustace, head of the horticultiu'al de^partment, urged work in 
fundamentals of the science and art in place of attempts to popularize hor- 



118 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



ticulture. He may well be gratified with the success of 0. K. White in 
extension work, who spent most of his time going about the state from place 
to place demonstrating horticultural practices. In 1913, Mr. White is still 
performing this kind of work. 

The Professor of Botany, Dr. Beal, knew from an experience of ten years, 
the great value of a botanical museum with an economic bearing upon agri- 
culture, Init thought it might yet be a long time before there should come a 
man to the college, having a decided mission for such a task, without which 
there could be little done. 

The reader may have noticed that previous to 1857, farmers thought a 
museum would most likely be gathered soon after founding the College. 

Dr. Marshall expressed his gratification with the four new hospital cottages 
which are essential in successfully fighting contagious diseases. See "Build- 
ings." 

The dean of engineering reported a job that had been coming to hand 




Bull barn. 



almost annually — to find several instructors to take places of those who 
resigned for work elsewhere. He said, "I shall take opportunity in and out 
of season to press the subject of higher salaries and opportunities for study 
and research and plans for a gradual increa'se to accord with the time of 
service." He thought the course of study as then in operation "too severe 
for the average student" and recommended a further reduction to be fol- 
lowed up by better quality of work. 

Professor V. T. Wilson referred to a new departure of holding an exhibition 
of drawing made by public schools at the time of the interscholastic meet in 
May. The exhibit proved very successful, some fifteen cities sending ex- 
hibits. 

The report of Dr. W. 0. Hedrick called attention to the teaching of a 
class in sociology for the first time. Economics, political science and socio- 
logy are studies that change so rapidly from year to year that teachers must 
continually read current books and magazines to keep up with the progress, 

The professor of english and modern languages reported that with twelve 
teachers, the department had only three rooms and that conseciuently, 
additional rooms must l)e found wherever possible. "For this reason during 
the year we have been in every building on the campus containing recitation 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 119 

rooms." In the department, the average enrollment of students for the year 
was 1,526. For teaching German and French, Dr. Blaisdell wished to pur- 
chase a language phone. The department had again been victorious in the 
debate with the State Normal College. He favored a plan by which students 
might have opportunities to make brief addresses before farmers' institutes, 
granges, farmers' clubs, thereby gaining practice and doing something for 
farming and engineering. In this connection, it is interesting to note that 
many times in former years, the writer took pains, much to the advantage 
of students and societies, to secure a place for students on the program of 
the grange and sometimes on that of the state or county horticultural so- 
cieties. 

On Decoration Day the entire corps of cadets proceeded to Detroit, taking 
part in the street parade. The splendid showing made bj^ the cadets both 
in Tanks and out of ranks was most gratifying to the commandant. Captain 
F. W. Fuger, and reflected credit on the College. 

Gas was piped from Lansing in 1909, and soon introduced into some of 
the laboratories and dwellings on the campus and in other portions of the 
city of East Lansing. 

THE DORMITORY SYSTEM. 

In the year 1909 the question of dormitories versus private society houses 
came strongly to the front. For more than forty years following the found- 
ing of the College, it was necessary that buildings for students' rooms and 
board be furnished by the institution. When the neighborhood began to 
be more populous, the State Board voted to encourage students to seek 
lodging and board in the neighborhood with the view of gradually abandoning 
the dormitories on the campus, after the plan adopted by the University 
about 1850. But the rapid growth of the College brought many perplexing 
problems to the board of control. 

Two societies built houses — one on the campus, which is used for social 
and literary purposes only — the other off the campus, which is used as a 
home for its members, providing living rooms ancl boarding facilities. It 
is in all respects a modern fraternity house. 

The president of the College is quoted: 

"At least three or four other societies are anxious to build houses of the 
latter type, either on or off the campus. In their favor the claim is made 
that at the majority of our large universities fraternity houses are very 
common, permitted and sanctioned by the board of control of these uni- 
versities; and that modern student life demands that some students draw 
away from the student body and form fraternal communities where they may 
live apart from the masses in perhaps a freer way than the dormitory affords. 
It is claimed that this fraternal life is more pleasant, forms closer friendships 
and on the whole is commendable. 

"On the other hand it is claimed that these fraternity houses add very 
much to the cost of living; that only young men of considerable means can 
afford to live in a fraternity house; that fraternities dictate the social life 
of a university or college and naturally set a pace which the farmer boy or 
ordinary young man cannot follow; that they tend to seclusion and aristo- 
cracy rather than to freedom and democracy." 

In 1909 Hon. R. D. Graham, president of the State Board of Agriculture, 
made inquiries of all alumni, excepting the five most recent classes, soliciting 
their opinions as to the policy to adopt in housing and boarding students. 

The following explains the views of the Board : 



120 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. l2l 

"In accord with the expressed sentiment of between eighty and ninety 
per cent, of the akunni heard from, be it resolved, that it shall be the 
policy of this institution to foster the dormitory system of housing students, 
and that efforts will be made to increase as rapidly as possible dormitory 
accommodations, eating halls, and quarters for social purposes. Resolved, 
further, that this Board shall not give its consent to the erection of society 
houses for living purposes, but it shall encourage the erection of houses by 
our literary societies for literary and social purposes, it being understood 
that such houses shall contain rooms for alumni and caretakers." 

Thus it will be seen that after experimenting for fifteen years, making 
inquiries of former students and learning the experience of other colleges, 
the State Board turned right square about again to favor dormitories and 
l)oarding clubs on the campus. The faculty of M. A. C. may well take 
warning and continue their efforts to keep down expenses of students. 

flere is something to the point in the Review of Reviews quoted in the 
M. A. C. Record, June 4, 1910: 

"All academic leaders who are not hopelessly blinded, understand how 
life in a series of fraternity houses or social clubs fringing a college campus 
may militate against the best purposes for which American boys are sup- 
posed to be sent to college. 

"And these college leaders would be glad if reforms could be made. But 
they lack the power to face and destroy these abuses that to so great an 
extent are harming college life. It is ridiculous that a great university 
should be dominated not by its authoritative workers, officers and those who 
make its scholarly and intellectual fame, but by undergraduate sentiment in 
harmful and even vicious phases. 

"The abuses of fraternity and society systems at some institutions are 
so glaring that they are evident to all observers. The exclusive groups, 
while sometimes harmful to their own members, are often cruel in the pain 
they inflict upon those who feel themselves shut out. In some of our col- 
leges so keen is the feeling in undergraduate circles that to be left out of 
certain privileged organizations is to have the whole college period poisoned 
in its memories. 

"The habits formed in the college period will usually dominate the young 
man's future fife. In the main, let us admit with candor, college life is not 
so far from what it should be that it is to be shunned rather than be accepted 
with its risks. But why not eliminate some of the risks? It is the duty 
of the college to admit only the young man who ought to be in the institu- 
tion for proper reasons." 

In his report for the year closing 1910, President Snyder expressed his 
belief that we were rapicUy approaching the time when it will no longer be 
necessary to maintain our five-year courses, thus using the rooms and force 
of teachers for more advanced students and for short courses. The Presi- 
dent referred to the retirement of the writer of this history, who had served 
the College a full forty years, teaching botany all that time. The State Board 
established a Division of Veterinary Medicine in response to the strong 
pressure brought to bear from various sources, selecting Dr. Richard P. 
Lyman as dean. So it was when the Division of Home Economics was 
established; it had been strongly urged from the outside. 

Dean R. S. Shaw with pride described the new agricultural building 
just completed. (See Buildings.) Professor Anderson referred to some fine 
dairy cattle, the results of care in selecting and breeding. 



122 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



The report of Professor Anderson is quoted : 

"During the winter vacation the Jersey cow, College Queen, 195623, was 
given a seven-day test for 'Register of Merit.' She gave 17 pounds, 11 ounces 
of butter fat from 322 pounds and 1.6 ounces of milk, at 5 years of age. An 
inspection of Jersey records made during the last year shows this to be the 
second best seven-day record made by any Jersey cow during that time. 
All the Holstein cows are already entered in the advanced registry on seven- 
day records. Among the Holstein records made during the year, two are 
especially worthy of mention. Bonheur Lassie 2d 113068, gave 470 pounds 
of milk containing 16.498 pounds fat in 7 days as a senior 2 year old, while 




Dwellings east of farm lane. 



College Houwtje De Kol, 103909, gave 557.5 pounds of milk containing 
20.205 pounds fat in 7 days as a senior 3 year old. 

"A comparison of the 7-day records of Belle Sarcastic, Rosa Bonheur 
5th, and Houwtje D. with the yield of College Houwtje De Kol show that 
this heifer has equalled the butter fat production of those mature cows, 
before she has reached the age of four years. 

" Records of this size do not, however, elicit the comment that they formerly 
did. The development of the capacity of the dairy cow has been so rapid 
and so general in the past few years that one cannot safely foretell the limit- 
of possible production." 

The following is from Professor Eustace: 

"The extension work in horticulture is meeting with splendid success. 
A special effort has been made to assist farmers who have manifested a 
desire to apply modern methods to old apple orchards, and to advise in 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



1^^ 



regard to new plantings in such matters as site, varieties, planting, pruning 
and cultivation. Considerable effort has been made to demonstrate the 
advantages of spraying potatoes. In all of this extension work an effort has 
been made to interest the people of the neighborhood and this is best done by 
demonstrations in the orchards and field." 

The report for this year shows that the dean of the division of engineer- 
ing had been looking well to the interest of his students not only while in 
college, but after leaving college, keeping run of the men to help them to 
good positions. He had taken commendable pride, worthy of imitation by 
other divisions, in keeping on exhibition photographs of all graduates. 

As far as statistics alone could show, the conclusions to be draAvn from 
the records of our engineering alumni at that time were very gratifying and 
indicated that the engineering work at the College had justified its estab- 
lishment and maintenance. Dean Bissell says: 




A special field building for soils 



"In order that the same statement may be made with like force at the end 
of another quarter century, constant and insistent attention must be given 
by the College, not only to the course of study and its development in step 
with the advancing ideas as to the requisites of technical education, but 
particularly to the question of efficiency of instruction. With the growth 
of the College this problem becomes of greater and greater moment, because 
the student is removed more and more from personal influence and teaching 
of the strong men of the faculty who are largely engaged in the necessary 
administrative work which goes with large schools and departments. 

"The handling of large classes by inexperienced instructors, as is now the 
policy here, does not bridge the distance between the student and the pro- 
fessor, but rather the reverse. It is important that many men of assistant- 
professor grade or higher, with commensurate salaries be added to our teach-' 
ing force and that good teachers once obtained be secured by salary or other 
inducements such as opportunity for research of commercial positions. 

"I strongly recommend, as I have done in previous reports: (a) An 
advanced salary scale for the various grades of instructors, (b) The formal 
recognition and inauguration of experiment station work in engineering as 



l24 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

important measures for the maintenance of the engineering work of the 
College on a satisfactory plane." 

Professor J. F. Baker continues to display unusual energy in the instruction 
of his forestry students during a portion of the long vacation. 

''This summer term is of great benefit," he says, "for in no other way 
can the student get so much practical field work in the subjects presented." 

"Through the invitation of the Sailing and Hanson Lumber Company of 
Grayling, Michigan, the senior class in forestry, 12 (lumbering) spent two 
weeks in their camps at Frederic, studying conditions and methods during 
the month of December, 1909. 

"By the kindness and courtesy of the State Public Domain Commission, 
the summer term for 1910, is now being held at Cold Sju-ings on the shores of 
Higgins Lake, Roscommon county, Michigan. Here the students are on 
the state forest of 38,000 acres of variously timbered cut-over lands so com- 
mon in the north central portion of the state. The subjects presented are 
the same as those taken up last year, i. e., civil engineering 2 and forestry 3 
(forest mensuration). The work extends over a period of six weeks. There 
is a large well-lighted class room furnished with black boards and laboratory 
tables. Twenty-four students are classified and are now in camp at work. 
They are housed in tents, two men to a tent. They are walled tents 9^x12 
feet, furnished with a board floor", two iron beds with mattresses, a small 
table, two chairs and a lantern." 

Dr. Beal presented his last report and enumerated the leading features 
of his work for each of the forty years. For details see his report in the Re- 
port of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. 

Professor Kedzie, in his report, says: "As stated in my report for last 
year this department is in need of additional space both for laboratory and 
recitation purposes. Our largest lecture room has seats for but 150 persons. 
The class in beginning chemistry in the fall term, 1909, numbered 411 stu- 
dents. This necessitates that I give the same lecture three times in order 
to reach each member of my class. I, therefore, recommend and urge that 
the matter of an addition to the present chemical l)uilding be considered 
by the Board of Agriculture." 

A similar repetition in the teaching of certain c asses in botany has been 
common during the past ten years, not always for ack of rooms, but on 
account of the complication in the daily program, a section of a class was 
divided the two portions coming at different periods. 

Excellent points in the report of Dr. Blaisdell are noted: 

"With the beginning of the year it was decided that freshmen and soph- 
omores must become, by habit, familiar with certain things which should be 
learned even before they enter high school but which they do not know when 
they come to college. Among these essentials in an English education are 
terminal punctuation, capitalization, and the form of a business letter. At 
the beginning of the fall and winter terms it was announced to all classes 
that a part of the examination of each of these terms would be certain letters, 
and that any mistake made in the letter form would result in condition, unless 
the rest of the examination was perfect. This warning was frequently re- 
peated throughout both these terms. 

"During the winter term the department took charge of many of the first 
year short course men and gave them work in practical letter writing. While 
not one of the sixty-four men in the class wrote accurately the first letter which 
they were asked to write, every man, with the exception of three, wrote 
absolutely correct letters in the examination held at the end of the course. 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 125 

It is believed that these men profited very much by the two hours per week 
given to this work." 

Dr. Blaisdell accounts for the failure to win in a debating contest with 
the state normal college, by observing that our men have much less time 
to give to that kind of work than have men in academic institutions. He 
expresses satisfaction with the progress made in the new course in agricultural 
journalism, also with the work of instructors with individual students through 
appointments outside the class hour. 

Dr. Hedrick for economics and political science notes : 

"This fragmentary method of presenting economics and political science 
is further commended through the desirable harmony which may thereby 
be established between the teachings of these subjects and the teaching of 
the other subjects of the College. As is well known the laboratory methods 
of _ instruction are the ones which prevail here and the student almost un- 
consciously adapts himself to this method of study. It has been the practice 
of the teachers of this department therefore for some years past to select each 
year some 'live' problem within the field of the particular social study which 
he was presenting and concerning which, — largely because it was a 'live' 
question — public documents or at least magazine and newspaper discussions 
could be obtained, and treat the topic as in original investigation. This 
has been a time-absorbing method of instruction and, as has been said before, 
the student has not been able to cover the whole subject and it has relieved 
the student from extreme dependence upon the text book. It has resembled 
the method of study pursued in the laboratories and it has given vitality to 
the subject for both student and teacher through the employment of original 
sources." 

This year, Warren Babcock was made full professor of mathematics in 
charge of the department. 

A few words from the report of the Director of Physical Culture and 
Athletics, C. L. Brewer: 

"The work of the representative athletic teams has been very good in all 
branches; the football team was probably the strongest ever to represent 
the institution, and brought considerable recognition to the College by de- 
feating such strong western teams as those of Wabash, Marquette and De 
Paul. 

"A great effort was made during the year to interest as large a number 
as possible of the young men of the College in some sort of work of the de- 
partment, and the result was very gratif,ying. Regular class-work was 
given during the winter, which consisted of the usual dumb bell, Indian 
club and wand drills, breathing and setting up exercises, and apparatus 
work, and a large number, especially under classmen, took advantage of it. 
Throughout the year interclass and interhall contests in all of the sports 
were arranged, and the interest was very keen at all times. A squad in 
cross-country running, a splendidly healthful exercise, was maintained 
throughout the year, and as many as one hundred fifty were enrolled for this 
work at one time. 

"I wish to again call your attention to the necessities for a gymnasium 
in the immediate future. With no gymnasium, the work of the department 
is so handicapped that it is impossible to make any progress along the lines 
of true physical education for all the men. A physical examination should 
be made of every boy entering college, followed by compulsory course in 
hygiene, sanitation, clean living and physical exercise. This must be done 



126 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

if the department is to take rank on a par with similar departments in 
other institutions, but it is impossible under present conditions." 

Professor Barrows again mentions with emphasis : 

"In common with most other departments we suffer more or less from lack 
of class and laboratory room, but have been able thus far to make temporary 
arrangements which permit of fair work. The time, however, is not far 
distant when the department will need an entire building with the modern 
facilities and appliances which advanced biology demands. 

"The general museum, which comes under the care of this department, 
merits more than a passing notice. Owing to its location on the second floor 
of the library building, and to the overcrowded condition of its cases, its 
size and importance are usually much underestimated. No special fund is 
set apart for it, and the only care bestowed upon it is such as can be given 
by the members of the teaching force of the department when they can be 
spared from academic work." 

Marked changes have taken place in the experiment station where over 
$40,000 yearly was being expended adding very materially to the growth 
of the College and the efficiency of extension work, details of which cannot 
be given here. 

In 1910 an interesting compilation was made showing the vast number 
of M. A. C. men who had reached responsible positions in other institutions. 
This report showed that in 1889, seven or one-sixth of the forty-two agri- 
cultural experiment stations then existing in the United States, were pre- 
sided over by men from this Michigan College. In 1908-10, eleven out of 
fifty-seven directors of experiment stations in this country were men who 
got their start in Michigan Agricultural College. Here is the list: 

Alaska— Sitka; C. C. Georgeson, M. S., 78. 
Colorado— Fort Collins; L. G. Carpenter, M. S., 79. 
Connecticut — Storrs; L. A. Clinton, B. S., '89. 

Idaho— Moscow; E. E. Elliott, (A. M. 1884, Monmoutli College) took 
special work under Dr. Beal in 1897-98. 
lUinois — Urbana; E. Davenport, M. S., 78. 
Missouri— Columbia; F. B. Mumford, M. S., '91. 
Nebraska— Lincoln ; E. A. Burnett, B. S., '87. 
New Hampshire — Durham; E. D. Sanderson, B. S., '97. 
New York— Ithaca; L. H. Bailev, M. S., '82. 
Ohio— Wooster; C. E. Thorne, with '66-'67. 
Wyoming — Laramie; J. D. Towar, B. S., '85. 

In taking up the annual report of the secretary of the State Board of Agri- 
culture for June 30, 1911, I am forced to compare it with the early reports 
covering accounts of the College. For a long time there were four to six 
persons making reports. Even when the College was thirty years old, there 
were only nine departments to report, while in 1911, there are thirty, in- 
dicating that most of the growth has been made during the last twenty- 
four years — the best of that during the last ten years. 

President Snyder in his report for 1911 o))serves: 

"The last legislature, appreciating the great need of better library and 
auditorium facilities, voted $150, 000 for the erection of such a l)uikling, 
but the Governor interposed his veto and the measure, greatly to our regret, 
failed." 

After this veto when speaking in different portions of the state Governor 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 127 

Osborn boasted about saving the state a million dollars, apparently not 
realizing that a portion of the saving (?) was lopping off the amount asked 
for a library and auditorium which could fairly be considered a most pro- 
ductive investment, and not a gift. 

"There must and will be," continues President Snyder, ''a great move- 
ment along all lines of agriculture education within the next few years. The 
work has just begun. Agricultural colleges and experiment stations must 
be the leaders in this great movement. They should assume the leadership 
and by aggressive effort maintain it. If they are not ready to meet the great 
demands made upon them independent movements will spring into being 
which though good in themselves will be much less effective than if directed 
by central organization. This College will need during the next few years 
in order to meet the responsibility placed upon it greater financial support 
than it has received in the past. The College has the confidence of the people 
of the state and it is believed that if they realized the need of the College, 
financial support would not be lacking." 

Dean Shaw refers to a "dicker" that he and Professor Baker made: In 
order to economize as regards labor and locate the nursery work within easy 
access of the student and visitor, field number 6, located just across the 
Cedar river, has been turned over to the forestry department for nursery 
work. In return for the tract, which comprises about 29 acres, lands hitherto 
used for forestry purposes located between the Pere Marciuette railroad and 
the Mt. Hope avenue road have been turned over to the farm department. 
He mentions the first training of delinquent students during the summer 
vacation, though promised for ten or more years: 

"On June 19, a four weeks' summer school in practical agriculture was 
opened with about fifteen young men in attendance. The object of this 
special course is to give young men from villages, towns and cities lacking in 
farm experience, an opportunity to learn how to do all kinds of farm work 
in the most efficient manner, though the time allotted is not expected to 
produce skillful laborers. Those who have not been trained on well operated 
farms are required to take this course before graduation." 

In marked contrast to reports of most of the thirty departments, it is 
refreshing to read the optimistic one by Professor Jeffery: 

"It is a pleasure to report that along all lines, we have been enabled, as 
predicted in our report of a year ago, to enlarge and make more practical 
the different courses which we are offering the students. This is due to the 
better facilities offered by the new builcling for such work and also to its 
influence upon the spirit of the student body. 

"A new departure this year was a trip of inspection to six typical farms 
of Michigan. The results were so gratifying that it is planned to make this 
feature a permanent work of the future. The inspection of these farms gave 
to the students a better conception of the possibilities of the farm, as well 
as of the importance of correct management. 

"As usual there has been a large demand for extension work, so large 
indeed that we were unable to respond to all the calls made for help in this 
direction. These calls came from the State Teachers' Association; high 
schools of the state; the farmers' institutes; boys' corn growing contest; 
county Y. M. C. A.'s; normal schools; county commissioners; etc." 

Professor Anderson refers to the practice of applying to all cattle the 
test for tuberculosis, — that during the past year none of the dairy animals 
of the college herd responded to the test. 



128 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

In asking for greenhouses for experimenting and teaching, Professor 
Eustace says: 

"The lack of this equipment is a serious one for the department and ranks 
us behind other colleges and universities that we have to compete with in 
training students. It is hoped that provision can be made at an early date 
to erect these houses." 

In 1894, President Gorton employed a man to begin experiments with 
poultry, but the project was soon abandoned because of the defective educa- 
tion of the person employed. Later it was resumed with much the same 
result-, but in 1908 the work was resumed i)y Assistant Professor Halpin 
and is still active and popular at the College anrl in extension work. 

The Professor of Forestry, J. Fred Baker, is still active during vacations 
and at all times in furthering the education of his students by giving courses 
in the work, and in camp, getting out logs, in camps in Arkansas, and visiting 
cypress mills in Louisiana. 

Dean Bissell repeats with emphasis on the policy of engaging cheap in- 
experienced teachers with no phm for promotion for those who are competcnit. 

Dr. C. E. Marshall, with the assistance of a considerable numl^cr of other 
eminent men, had prepared a text-l)ook in bacteriology for use in agricultural 
colleges. Dr. Marshall had eleven persons to assist in teaching and in carry- 
ing on experiments. 

Dr. Bessey was making plans to extend the room for the herbarium since 
his predecessor, the writer, had left the cases very nearly filled, containing 
about 110,000 plants. 

Students who were at the College twenty years ago and earlier have little 
conception of the number and variety of periodicals, nearly five hundred, 
displayed in the library. Of books there are 34,228. 

The management of this college has been conservative, especially during 
the two long administrations of President Abbot, and President Snyder, 
yet there has been a steady growth each year. The students dress better ancl 
perhaps they live better and have better rooms, especially in Wells Hall, 
heated by steam, lighted by electricity and with toilets on each floor. They 
have a good bath house and yet there is another thing lacking, they want 
hot water in each room and they will get it. 

In turning over page after page in search of items for the history of the 
College, the writer finds the reports of the secretary of the State Board of 
Agriculture, the reports of the superintendent of farmer's institutes and the 
M. A. C. Record for 1908-1909 exceeding those of any previous year in the 
number and value of useful information, the added attraction and equipment 
in great contrast to what can be found anywhere concerning the College in 
early days. These publications fairly bristle with a great variety and scope 
of teaching and experimenting, both at the College and among the farmers of 
Michigan. 

You old fellows of 1870, and earlier, think of this College in 1911 with 
1,600 students and a corresponding increase in the number in the faculty! 
Witness a miUtary parade of 700—900 men in uniform, and see the puzzled 
look of the Commandant as he hunts for a spot long enough to display his 
cadets. Visit the library of 33,000 books and 466 periodicals, American and 
foreign ! See the large numbers of good buildings, trees and extensive lawns 
in place of charred logs and stumps or ragged fields! 

This would seem to be a favorable place to call attention to the lighter 
sides of college activity, a number of features of which have shown great 
development in the last half dozen years. 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 129 

THE JUNIOR HOP. 

In the past fifteen years the junior hop at M. A. C. has developed from an 
informal dance held in the rooms of one of the literary societies to the most 
formal of all our college functions. 

Each hop has been a little more formal, elaborate and expensive than any 
preceding with the feeling that some succeeding class may equal but never 
can excel the product of ''our class." It has outgrown all conveniences at 
the College and is given in the Masonic Temple in Lansing. 

The junior hop is an event never to be forgotten and those who attend 
will ever remember it as one of the happiest events of their college life. 

THE CIRCUS OR CARNIVAL. 

Beginning in 1906 a circus or carnival has been held by the students each 
spring term, offering much amusement and raising some money for charitable 
purposes, such as boosting the Holcad or helping defray the expenses of the 
athletic association. The horticultural department also lends a hand by 
cleaning up the rubbish. The advertising furnishes an excellent practice 
for the "sophomores in the use of bombastic language. Witness the following 
in the M. A. C. Record April 13, 1909: 

"The armory and vicinity were converted into a veritable hippodrome 
Saturday, when it was the scene of the third and by far the most successful 
athletic carnival ever attempted at M. A. C. 

''The circus opened at 1:30 with a magnificent street parade with three 
bands and accompanied by the usual complement of clowns and rough riders. 
After making the rounds of the campus the parade returned to the armory 
where the show was on in earnest. 

"The armory was divided into booths where various special acts were 
pulled off, including the Salome dance hall. Coulter's Rescue Mission for 
thirsty souls, etc.,, while along the north side 'dainty delicious deUcacies 
were deftly dispensed by the demure damsels of the dean's department!' 
No supper was served at the clubs and everyone had to eat at the lunch 
counter or go hungry. 

"In the bath house Dr. Chapman held forth with his famous side show. 
Among the attractions were Wadji, the fossil bedbug, sole survivor of "Saints 
Rest," the Outre-Goojam Twins, the wild man of New Jersey and Countess 
Valeski Awfulitch, the Russian bearded lady. 

"The total receipts of the occasion were about $500, with a net profit of 
some $400." Here is one sentence in the advertisement of a similar circus 
at Cornell: "President Roosevelt sHpped up yesterday on his Cabinet 
tennis court and landing on his hip pocket, broke a twenty-dollar bill. He 
announces that he will come to Ithaca to spend the change." 

ANNUAL BARBECUE. 

M. A. C.'s first annual barbecue was held on a Friday evening, October, 1908, 
in the hollow in front of Wells' Hall. All day the ox had been roasting, and 
at about 7:30 p. m. the band began the festivities with a concert, the numbers 
being interspersed with talks by members of the football team, W. H. Small, 
'08, and Secretary Brown. The college yells and songs also played an im- 
portant part. At about 8:30 the "chef" assisted by three cooks from the 
Hotel Downey began carving the ox, and the guests were served as they passed 
17 



130 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

by; seniors first, with a cup of sweet cider, and a generous ox sandwich. 
Though the first of its kind at the college everything moved off without 
friction. It will probably become an established custom. One of the pretty 
ceremonies was the presentation of a carving knife by President Kurtz, of 
the senior class, to the sophomore class which is to be handed down to the 
succeeding class each year. 

A year later, November, 1909, the Record notes: 

"One of the finest demonstrations of college spirit and good cheer ever 
held on the campus was given Friday night by the sophomores. 

"It is at this barbecue that all class differences cease, time-honored enmity 
is transformed into general good-fellowship and the memory of defeat be- 
comes one as of long standing. The barbecue marks an epoch in the social 
life of the college so far as it pertains to the two lower classes, and has the 
tendency to abate the spirit of rivalry which has had a marked effect in 
tabooing all higher institutions of learning ever since Heidelberg was in its 
infancy. It is to be hoped that the barbecue may grow not only in the 
amount of ox sandwiches and cider served but in its varied usefulness as well. 

*'In looking over the records we do not find mention of any previous 
general convocation of the student body either formal or informal inaugu- 
rated for a similar purpose, and although this is an innovation at M. A. C. 
it is one the success of which is rarely equaled. 

"Short talks were made by members of the faculty and student body, and 
the band and the bell furnished the music. 

"It was roughly estimated that some 1,500 persons partook of sweet cider 
and beef sandwiches bv the light of the big bonfire in the hollow in front 
of Wells' Hall." 

THE PROMENADE CONCERT. 

In November 1908, a good manj^ of the new students are asking, "What 
is this promenade concert to be, anyway? Is it a dance, or is it a concert? 
What is the admission? Can we invite the ladies? Is it worth going to?" 

"With the football season nearing an end there are very few occasions 
when the student body is called together in what might be termed 'all college 
affairs.' It was to provide such occasions for all college gatherings that the 
promenade concerts were arranged. The admission is 15c for the men. As 
to inviting the ladies, they are already invited and will arrive at the armory 
in a body at 7:20 p. m., Nov. 20th. After that, it is surely not necessary to 
ask, Ts it worth going to?' We have the best band this year in the history 
of the College. They are working for the College. Fall in behind the band 
and push." 

The question naturally arises whether with all these outside activities 
including many of the developments in athletics, college work is not injured. 

In an address before the National Association of State Universities, Presi- 
dent Schurman, of Cornell, touched upon "student activities" in this man- 
ner: "These extra-curriculum activities have become, in the last decade 
or two, a serious menace to the real functions of our universities, state 
and endowed alike. In themselves considered, these so-called student 
activities are proper, and may be even laudable. I need not point out, 
though the fact escapes general attention save in the case of football, that 
these outside activities absorb the time and interest of the students who 
participate in them to the detriment of that intellectual training and educa- 
tion for the sake of which they presumably came to the university. It is 
no relief to the situation to point out that such students derive a valuable 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 



131 



experience from these non-academic pursuits. Undoubtedly they do. But 
the university does not exist for the sake of side-shows that can be grouped 
about its hospitable campus. They are mere phenomena, or even epiphe- 
nomena, that play about that vital and essential reality which we call the 
university. To substitute them for it is to glorify the shadow as the sub- 
stance. 

"At Oxford and Cambridge students are divided into 'pass' and 'honor' 
men, the former numbered by thousands the latter numbered by hundreds. 
With us in the United States, speaking generally, all degrees of the same 
denomination conferred by a university have the same value. The result 
is that our degrees are held in little esteem by the public." 




During the year 1913, Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, Superintendent of Schools 
of Chicago said : " That there is a weakening of moral fiber, a restless craving 
for amusement, a lack of serious purpose and an increasing temptation to 
idleness or worse in the opinion of many trustworthy observers of the younger 
generation. In so far as vocational training can hold their flagging interest 
and fit them for useful work, it is doing a great social service." 

During the year ending June 30, 1912, the College continues to grow, 
graduating this year sixty-six from the Division of Agriculture, fifty-four 
from the Division of Engineering, thirty from the Division of Home Eco- 
nomics, fifteen from the Department of Forestry, — whole number one hun- 
dred sixty-five. The net enrollment of students was 1,702, with a marked 
improvement from year to year in the preparation for college work. 

Accompanying a satisfactory growth was a pressing need of more money 
to employ more teachers, to build more class rooms to house more students. 

As was expected when every line of farming became highly profitable a 



132 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL, COLLEGE. 

larger per cent of students entered the division of agriculture. Twenty- 
six high schools in as many counties had introduced agriculture in their 
courses with a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College to carry out 
the work; sixteen women from the last class of the College were teaching 
domestic science. The demand for teachers for such work was exceeding 
the supply. Elaborate exhibits had been made at several fairs and at the 
College in connection with the round-up institutes. The geological survey 
had decided to store its botanical collections at the Agricultural College. 
The plan of selling bottles of one hundred fifty or more species of seeds of 
weeds and grasses at less than cost to high schools, granges and any others 
which had been practiced for fifteen or more years, was continued. 

The chemical department had seen the completion of a fine and much 
needed addition to the laboratory, sufficient for seating at lectures, 400 
students and providing laboratory space for 286 students. In 1913, these 
rooms were filled to overflowing. 

Beginning July 1st, the summer vacation of 1912 was enlivened and en- 
riched, by the fifth session of the graduate school of agriculture and the 
fourth session of the graduate school of home economics. The former was 
held under the auspices of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges 
and Experiment Stations, and the latter under the auspices of the American 
Home Economics Association. 

These schools were in session during four weeks. The former school is 
held once in two years at some agricultural college and is managed chiefly 
by Dr. A. C. True of the U. S. Department of Agriculture. The chairman 
of the other school was Mrs. Alice P. Norton of the University of Chicago. 
The Board of Agriculture api^ropriated $2,000 and $500 respectively, to 
aid in defraying the expenses of these two schools. 

Notable among the changes of the faculty was the loss of Dr. T. C. Blais- 
dell, Professor of English who resigned to accept the presidency of Alma 
College and of Dr. C. E. Marshall, Professor of Bacteriology who became 
Professor of Bacteriology and Dean of the Graduate School of Massachusetts 
Agricultural College 

For the first time each student of the College, in 1912, was assessed 
six dollars, called a blanket tax, contributing to the expense of a lecture 
course and to help support athletics. 

A beginning was made toward a new dairy building to cost $75,000, the 
department giving up the first builchng erected in 1900, costing $15,000 to 
the department of forestry. 

The Holcad contained considerable about the athletic victories won during 
the year under the leadership of Professor Macklin and every M. A. C. 
student is proud of the success of the college band of fifty pieces under Pro- 
fessor A. J. Clark. The band made a trip to Columbus, Ohio, and to several 
other cities. 

During the year ending June 30, 1913, Professor J. A. Jeffery resigned to 
become Land Commissioner for the Duluth, South Shore and Atlantic Rail- 
way. His duties will consist chiefly in instructing farmers along the lines 
in business methods in agriculture. 

The vacancy in the chair of mathematics caused by the death of Warren 
Babcock, was filled by the appointment of Louis Clark Plant. 

The resignation of Maude Gilchrist, Dean of Home Economics, was filled 
by the selection of Dr. Georgiana Laura White, who will assume her duties 
at the opening of the spring term in 1914. 



PRESIDENT SNYDER'S ADMINISTRATION. 133 

John B. DeLancy was assigned to the chair of miUtary tactics in place 
of A. C. Cron, whose time of service had expired. 

The members of the Olympic society purchased the Holdsworth house 
at a cost of $9^000. 

Trains equipped for college extension work traversed the Upper Peninsula 
attracting much attention. 

It gratified all friends of the institution to witness the college spirit of the 
a!umni gathered at the Commencement of 1913. 

•A very important event was the lease of C. D. Woodbury's farm of 336 
acres with the privilege of purchase within ten years. This added to the 
present holding will make a total of 1,020 acres. Development of plans for 
the use of these lands will appear from time to time. 

Other leading events of the past year are noticed in several other chapters 
of this volume. 

ANOTHER COLLEGE WINNER. 

Late in November, 1913, College Bravura, a Brown Swiss cow, No. 2577, 
born at the college in 1901, after a vear's trial was found to have produced 
milk 19,460.6 lbs., butter fat 798,164 lbs. equivalent to butter 997.705 lbs. 
This is the best world's record so far for this breed of cattle 

ARBORETUM. 

To a person accustomed to a new county, a term still applicable to Lansing, 
and vicinity in 1913, it may seem strange to go into the "woods" where the 
trees are arranged in straight rows. In the campus an artificial forest was 
begun in 1875 on a piece of land constituting about one and one-half acres, 
located next to the road north of the College and the north entrance, just 
where it is likely to be seen on one side and on one end by all who visit the 
College by way of the street railway. LTnfortunately for the visitor, the 
trees are of different ages, so mistakes are likely to be made in estimating the 
relative growth and value. Some years ago, this area included 215 species 
of trees and shrubs and probably contains about 150 today (1913). 

The trees were nearly all started by planting the seeds and nuts, before 
drying, just where they were expected to remain. 

Giving the results of any measurements of the height and diameter would 
be quite misleading in many cases, because of differences in the soil and in 
the space occupied as well as for several other reasons, yet such measure- 
ments would be worth mentioning. Trees suitable for good telegraph poles 
have been grown on favorable soil in 30 years. 

The numerous mistakes made in the arrangement of the trees are in- 
structive as well as the successful efforts at proper arrangement. 

THE FOREST, PINETUM. 

The native forest of about 190 acres consists of two isolated areas from 
which most of the valuable timber has been removed. 

The nursery consists of about 25 acres where millions of young trees are 
growing, all managed by the professor of forestry in a most creditable manner. 

A small Pinetum of two to three acres was planted by Dr. Beal in the spring 
of 1896 and is now (1913) most attractive. 



134 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

farmers' institutes. 

The writer has known for a good while that Professor L. R. Taft was a 
very efficient superintendent of farmers' institutes. From his last report, 
we glean: "In no previous year have so many farmers' institutes been held 
in Michigan, or the interest in the work been so great. One feature has been 
the general distribution of the meetings. In round numbers there were, in 
addition to the Round-up institute, two three-day institutes and 82 county 
institutes of which 69 held sessions for two days. Nearly all of the others 
were in the Upper Peninsula. For the first time in many years an institute 
has been held in every county in the Lower Peninsula and there was but 
one county, Keweenaw, in the Upper Peninsula which did not have at least 
one institute." 

The Round-up of 1913 was held at the College in February and was the 
most successful one in every particular. The total estimate of attendance 
was 6,000 and during a portion of the time, there were seven meetings going 
at one time. 



Courses of study. 135 



CHAPTER IX. 

COURSES OF STUDY. 
DIVISIONS OF THE COLLEGE. 

A gricuUural Division . 

There are in the state many districts better adapted to wheat than ours, 
as there are sections not so subject to drouth and frost. The farm has a 
great variety of soil of medium quality. As you enter the grounds from the 
west you ascend a hill, having the Red Cedar river beneath a steep and 
curved bank on your right. • This hill is stiff clay, and has been taken for 
pear, plum and cherry trees. Where the river bears to the right from the 
drive, we have alluvial soil, and about the buildings, light, sandy loam or 
sand, — the college buildings standing in an old grove of oaks with now and 
then a tulip tree, cherry, sassafras, beech or basswood, with several elms, 
ashes, maples and others. We have clay loam, and light peaty loam and 
peat. The farm was selected partially in view of this variety of soil. 

In the early days of the College, and previously, there was a good deal 
said about the importance of having somewhere in the state, a model farm, 
which in recent years, at least, it would be difficult to define; this farmer 
would say it should grow large herds of dairy cattle; another would think 
grain should be the most prominent feature; one would be disappointed unless 
a herd of cattle were fattened each year ; some would want the farmer to breed 
draft horses (which breed?), some, roadsters. To breed all the leading kinds 
of horses, cattle, sheep, swine, poultry; to grow fields of many sorts of grains, 
fruits, and vegetables, would require a farm of several thousand acres in 
extent and in a location favorable to most kinds of fruits that only thrive 
where the winters are mild. 

In these days the educated farmer looks at a college farm as an out-of- 
door laboratory rather than a model farm. As Davenport puts it: "The 
best friends of the institution may forget that its real business is invention 
and the discovery of principles and their application, not to the making of a 
collection of models which men may cart home and use without mental 
application." 

Continually, from the beginning, the agricultural division has been most 
favored. 

1. It was the only department for twenty-eight years, until 1885. 

2. Even after the divisions of engineering, home economics, veterinary 
medicine and science and art were established, one after the other in slow 
succession, the agricultural division had the advantage in size of equipment. 

3. It has been advertised the most extensively by exhibits at fairs and at 
large numbers of farmers' institutes, by special railway trains, by demon- 
stration and other forms of extension work and by large amounts paid for 
conducting experiments, since 1910 at least $30,000 annually being granted 
by the nation for experimental work. 



136 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



As long as there was but one division, all students joined that as a con- 
dition of attending college, though they might have no intention of making 
agriculture their life work, but as soon as the division of engineering ap- 
peared, many students preferred it and so it was later when forestry was 



n 



n~' rn' p-i rsi 




made a department and doubtless, to some extent, the veterinary division 
will also cut into agriculture. 

At present those selecting the division of agriculture are doing so from 
choice and when graduated, almost to a man, will follow the line of work 
in which they have especially prepared. With this explanation, the agri- 
cultural division was not — is not — so badly off as it once appeared to be. 

The report of a committee of the faculty, given in the chapter on attendance, 



COURSES OF STUDY. 137 

mentions the low price of farm products as a prominent reason for the dearth 
of agricultural students. I am sure that this is a very prominent reason 
why few farmers of that time advised their sons to join the agricultural 
division. Hard times in 1893, before and after, helped to turn young men 
from agriculture as a business. 

As the proportion of farmers in this country diminishes and population 
increases, produce is sure to rise in price. 

After the new land, as well as the old, becomes less and less fertile, insects 
and fungi more troublesome and weed pests more frequent, the opportunity 
for the primitive farmer will greatly diminish. Other things being equal, 
the well-trained man will win because he is master of a hundred little devices 
that the other man dare not attempt. The other man will fail to spray his 
orchard, or to improve the quality of his farm crops which will be likely 
to "run out." 

About 1896, students began to increase rapidly in numbers, not only be- 
cause Dr. J. L. Snyder was president nor because the other members of the 
faculty on the whole were so much superior to those that preceded them by 
a few years, but because the times were ripe for such increase. 

Look at the increase in numbers and in popularity at that time, of the 
Agricultural Colleges of Kansas, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Oregon, New York, 
Ohio, IncHana, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri. In recent times M. A. C. 
has relatively fallen behind some six or eight of the above colleges, instead 
of holding her own as the foremost of all. 

Doubtless the competition for students of a very progressive university 
in the state has tended to keep the numbers at M. A. C. lower than they 
otherwise would be. 

"During the summer of 1863, Dr. Miles, under the direction of the Board, 
visited the eastern herds of Short-Horns and Devons, and made a purchase of 
a bull and two heifers of each l3reed. They are all animals of great beauty 
and of the choicest blood. Hon. J. B. Crippen, of Coldwater, presented a 
pure blood heifer to the College before any purchase had been made. It is 
hoped that these animals may serve — not only as means of instruction — 
their first use — but to improve the stock of the state." (9) 

The writer prepared a report of some of the famous cattle of the College, 
but has cut it out because it is likely to be soon out of date and behind the 
times. 

COURSES OF STUDY. 

From the start the Michigan Agricultrual College, in teaching students, 
blazed out a new road for itself. In the beginning, with only six professors, 
all strangers to each other, it was not to be expected that full-fledged plans 
of studies should be clearly mapped out; besides, the boys were fresh from 
the common school and were of uneven grade. For a while the professors 
had to cut and try and work over, adjusting this and that plan. 

Some general features of the course to pursue had been decided before 
the college farm was secured. 

The Constitution of Michigan requires that "The Legislature shall. ..... 

provide for the establishment of an agricultural school for instruction 

in agriculture and the natural sciences connected therewith." (Revised Con- 
stitution, 1850, Art. XIII, 11.) f' ^1 

The laws of Michigan — Howell's Annotated Statutes — provide as follows : 

"4988. This institution shall combine physical with intellectual educa- 
tion, and shall be a high seminary of learning in which the graduate of the 
common school can commence, pursue, and finish a course of study^terminat- 



138 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL, COLLEGE. 

ing in thorough theoretical and practical instruction in those sciences and 
arts which bear directly upon agriculture and kindred industrial pursuits." 

For 33 years the requirements for admission to the freshman class, as it 
appeared in successive catalogues, was as follows: To pass a satisfactory 
examination in arithmetic, geography, grammar, reading, spelling and pen- 
manship. A knowledge of elementary algebra is desirable. 

In 1861, even with these requirements for admission, the college was em- 
powered to confer the degree of Bachelor of Science on young men who had 
attended classes for four years. 

Long, long before 33 years had passed, this low standard of admission 
frequently called forth criticism from various sources. 

It was not until September 1858, that the faculty got together a plan of 
studies which was submitted to the Board for approval. 

The following is taken from the catalogue of 1861: 



COURSE OF INSTRUCTION. 



PREPARATORY. 



Higher Arithmetic, 

Physical and Mathematical Geography, 

English Grammar. 



Algebra, 

Natural Philosophy, 

Rhetoric. 



COLLEGE COURSE. 



FIRST YEAR. 



Geometry, 

Meteorology, 

History. 



Trigonometry and Surveying, 

Elementary Chemistry, 

English Literature, Book-keeping. 



SECOND YEAR, 



Physics, 

Vegetable Physiology, Horticulture, 

Rhetoric. 



Civil Engineering, 

Botany, Horticulture, Mineralogy, 

Inductive Logic. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 



139 



THIRD YEAR. 



Drawing and Rural Engineering, 

Geology, 

Mental Philosophy. 



Astronomy, 

Zoology, 

Moral Philosophy, 



FOURTH YEAR. 

Analytical Chemistry, 
Animal Physiology, 
Political Economy. 



Agricultural Chemistry, 

Entomology, Veterinary Medicine, Economy 
of Domestic Animals, 

Agricultural and Geographical Botany, Tech- 
nology, Household and Rural Economy. 

During the year 1857-58, the manual labor and the classes were neither 
confined to the forenoon nor to the afternoon, but sections alternated through 
the day. After a few years the manual labor for three hours served as labora- 
tory practice and aided materially in giving boys much valuable training. 
Students were divided into three sections for labor. They rose early in 
those d:iys. Chapel exercises were at five-thirty, a. m.; breakfast was at, 
or near, six. Labor for the first section of students began at six-thirty and 
lasted till nine-thirty. Meanwhile classes for the other two sections were 
going on, beginning at seven a. m. At nine-thirty the second section went 
to work, mainly logging and clearing up land. At twelve-thirty all took 
dinner, and from one-thirty till four-thirty the third division labored. 

After two years, all recitations and lectures ceased by twelve o'clock, and 
after dinner the manual labor occupied all students for three to four hours. 

The following is a sample program for the forenoon : 

SCHEME OF RECITATIONS FOR 1872 
FIRST TERM. 



Class. 


8 a. m. 


9 a. m. 


10 r,. m. 


11 a. m. 


Senior 


f 
■•■\ 




Agriculture. 
Zoology. 


Astronomy. 
French. 


Landscape gardening. 
Civil engineering. 


Junior 


...{ 


Analytical chemistry. 


Analytical chemistry. 


Praxis, four weeks. 
Analytical chemistry. 


Drawing, six weeks. 
Rhetoric. 


Sophomore 


...{ 




English Literature. 


Praxis, four weeks. 
Botany. 


Elementary chemistry. 
Book-keeping, six weeks 


Freshman 


...{ 




Praxis, six weeks. 
History. 


Algebra. 


Physical geography. 



140 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
SECOND TERM. 



Class. 


8 a. m. 


9 a. m. 


10 a. m. 


11 a. m. 


Senior 


^i 




Mental philosophy. 


Moral philosophy. 
Politi.?al economy. 


French. 


Junior 




Mechanics. 


Physiology. 










Analytical chemistry. 


Analytical chemistry. 


Praxis, three weeks. 
Analytical chemistry. 


Botany, ten weeks. 




Horticulture. 


Freshman 


■■{ 


Agriculture. 


Praxis, four weeks. 
Botany. 


Algebra, common. 
Geometry. 





For two reasons it does not seem worth while to present details of the 
courses of study as adopted in recent years: 1st, current catalogues of the 
College are always available to give the latest information on the subject; 
2nd, never a year passes in which some member of the faculty doesn't make 
one or more changes in the sul)jects wiiich he teaches, while each newly ap- 
pointed head of a department is sure to be unwilling to follow the program 
of his predecessor. During his long service as a member of the faculty, the 
writer has again and again seen these changes going on. No sooner has a 
schedule been adopted than something occurs to make it seem necessary to 
begin to inaugurate change. Advances made in different departments of 
knowledge tend to make changes. 

Fortunately all along down the years of the College there have been in 
the faculty some strong men of vision who have seen the importance of giving 
the instruction a practical trend. For thirty-five years the intimacy of the 
faculty with citizens of all kinds, and with what they wanted of the Col- 
lege, has served as a guide. Great stress has been placed on laboratory 
work in the shop, field and garden, as well as in the class room. The reader 
will study Chapter XI, on Methods of Teaching. 

In 1859 the change in the daily program, to bring all the studies in the 
forenoon and all the labor in the afternoon was not made for the convenience 
of those who superintended the labor, but to suit those whose chief business 
it was to teach and lecture, they claiming that students who labored in the 
forenoon were likely to go to sleep in class during the afternoon. 

Teachers are usually ambitious to get as much time as they can for their 
classes, and in this there is always sure to be rivalry. I give an extreme case: 
In 1872 and later, the sophomores spent three continuous hours daily in the 
second semester in analytical chemistry, leaving but one hour for one other 
study, as no classes came in the afternoon ; in other Avords, this class in chem- 
istry took the place of two classes instead of one, as the usual requirement 
was three classes each day. 

In 1895, not satisfied with this. Dr. Kedzie reported: "I met my sopho- 
mores one evening each week for a chemical conversation, and every Saturday 
morning for two hours to give them practice in chemical manipulation. It 
was very rare to find any one absent." Possibly absences were liable to 
have their bearing on the final examinations. 

The plan of placing all classes in the forenoon and all labor in the after- 
noon was maintained, with slight interruptions, till 1893, when L. G. Gorton 



COURSES OF STUDY. 141 

was President and while CD. Smith was professor of agriculture, then the 
plans began to break up with some classes in the afternoon. The subject 
is more fully considered under the chapter on Manual Labor. From the 
start, in 1885, some sections of students in mechanical engineering had shop 
work in the forenoon. 

In March 1884, the State Board of Agriculture voted: 

"Resolved, That the graduates of graded schools having a regular course of 
study such as shall be approved by the faculty, or the Board, or by any 
committee appointed by the Board, shall be admitted without examination 
in college preparatory studies on presenting properly certified certificates 
of graduation. 

"It was made the duty of the secretary of the Board to visit schools de- 
sirous of availing themselves of this privilege, with authority to determine 
whether they should be admitted into this relation to the College." This 
was expected, in a measure, to affiliate the common school and the College. 

Up to, and including, the College year beginning September 1882, "the 
courses" of study were the same for all regular students, with no chance for 
deviation. 

In 1883 the seniors were for the first time permitted each term to select 
three out of five studies. This was a step toward enabling students to secure 
a more thorough knowledge of some chosen branch of science or of practice. 
At the same time veterinary science was extended from a half term to three 
whole terms daily. 

For forty years from the o]Mniing of the College the academic year began 
late in Fel)ruary and closed about the tenth of November, leaving the long 
vacation in winter. The change was made in 1896, when the college year 
began on September 14th, and closed about June 20, 1897. The system 
then adopted has been followed to the present time. 

Though the old plan made it possil)le for a number of students to teach 
school during the winter vacation and thereby gain the means for defraying 
their expenses during the remainder of the year, still a great many of the 
friends of the school had urged, from time to time, that the plan ordinarily 
pursued by colleges would be much more satisfactory to the majority of those 
interested. Agriculture can now be studied to very good advantage during 
the spring and fall. It is believed that students, from the practical stand- 
point, will lose nothing, while on the other hand they will be benefited in 
many ways by the change. 

The first scheme was favorable for allowing students in agriculture, horti- 
culture and botany to study crops of all kinds during the growing season. It 
was also more convenient for conducting institutes when the professors were 
"enjoying" the long winter vacation. Some of the professors really had 
very little vacation during the entire year. The new scheme corresponded 
with that in most other colleges and made it possible for professors to attend 
societies and conventions with those from most other colleges. Later, 
with students taking short courses in winter, in addition to students in the 
long courses, it became impossible for teachers to attend many institutes, 
without neglecting their regular college work. 

In September 1899, the reciuirements for entering the freshman class were 
increased and pub on a par with those at the University, viz., graduates 
of approved high schools were admitted without examination. This class of 
students increased from year to year and set the pace for others to maintain, 
fall back or drop out. 

This movement was far-reaching and important for two reasons: the re- 



142 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

quirements for entering were raised, removing the stigma of a low-grade 
college, and the better high schools and the College became more closely 
affiliated. 

At the time the requirements to enter the freshman class were raised, a 
fifth year (preparatory year) was prefixed to the agricultural and women's 
divisions, to comply with a state law which compelled the College to admit 
students from the eighth grade. Such students were required to spend five 
years at the College in order to receive the B. S. degree. In other words, 
these eighth-grade students were expected (?) to perform the work of four 
years in one year. This plan was most discouraging for the student and 
unfortunate for the College and will be abandoned at the close of the college 
year 1913-14. 

The entrance requirements would have been raised many years before 
1899, had it not been for some timid souls who continually quoted the laws 
requiring admission from the common school. Granting that the law might 
have been changed, they still believed that students would rapidly diminish 
in numbers. On the contrary, the raising of requirements served immediately 
to increase the numbers entering the College. 

From 1857 to 1884 — a period of 27 years — there was but one division of 
the ('Ollege in operation — the agricultural. The reader will recall the fact 
that in consideration of the national land grant of 1862 a division of me- 
chanical engineering was contemjilated. The very small amount of money 
at th(> disposal of the State Board of Agriculture influenced President Abbot 
to advise using it all for advancing agriculture, which scarcely had means 
enough to maintain a thrifty existence. 

From 1857 to 1875, when the Agricultural College was new, there was no 
trouble in deciding what subjects should engage the students during the four 
years in college, because science was young, so was agriculture, but in time, 
progress was made in every department of human knowledge. Investiga- 
tions and experiments made it seem very desirable, if not necessary, to re- 
quire students to take additional topics, beyond the fifteen to seventeen 
per week usually required. 

The teachers of agriculture and later the teachers of engineering, and by 
degrees also the teachers of the sciences added a topic here and a topic there, 
until by 1900, each student was required to take five studies per day — ■ 
twenty-five per week — and as considerable of this was work in a laboratory 
where it required two hours to gain one credit, it was not unusual to find 
students who were busy in class room or laboratory from eight o'clock until 
five or six in the afternoon, excepting a recess of an hour for dinner. The 
members of the faculty all realized that this mode of procedure was a great 
mistake — it was too much stuffing with too little time for digestion. 

No department was willing to yield anything unless every one was re- 
quired to give up something. In 1911, after a committee had labored two 
years or more at a very disagreeable task, the daily program in each of the 
divisions — ^agriculture, engineering, home economics — showed four sub- 
jects per day, twenty per week, requiring the average student to take less 
in quantity but more in quality. It is still an open question whether there 
may not with profit be a still further reduction. 

As the number of students and teachers increases, the different kinds of 
instruction are more and more subdivided. 

I note an example: 

In 1890, the division of agriculture contained departments of: Animal 



COURSES OF STUDY. 143 

husbandr}^, dairy husbandry, farm crops, farm and horses, farm mechanics, 
poultry, soils, horticulture and forestry. 

The department of animal husbandry since the appointment of Dr. 
Miles, the first professor of agriculture, has continued to receive attention, 
the students learning the good and weak points of horses, beef cattle, sheep 
and pigs. 

With the advancement of knowledge all along the line pertaining to agri- 
culture, it became impossible to give instruction and suit everybody in any 
one course of study. Michigan is well adapted to dairying. It is a growing 
industry and profitable. Professor C. D. Smith saw this clearly in 1893 
and none too soon began the work. He provided for elective studies in this 
branch of agriculture. 

With increased attention to farm crops all over our country by study and 
experiment, this College began, seven years ago, to recognize the demand 
for elective work in this line and provided a department of agronomy. 

The same was emphatically true of soils and ample provisions were made 
to fill this demand. Professor Jeffery was secured and he began the work 
with his advanced ideas. 

Agriculture in Michigan has long since passed the pioneer stage, when 
good men could be employed at twelve dollars a month including board. 
With fields cleared of stumps and stones and the scarcity and high cost of 
labor, the use of farm machinery was more economical. With the scarcity 
and cost of timber, the construction of fences and buildings was revolution- 
ized, the age of steel and cement had arrived. A department of farm me- 
chanics was needed and it was provided. 

As grains and meat rapidly increased in price there sprung up a demand 
for systematic instruction in the production of poultry for furnishing eggs 
and meat. To meet this demand, the work begun in earnest in 1906. Long 
before the departments of dairy, farm crops, soils, farm mechanics, poultry 
were well established, there was a demand for thorough instruction in horti- 
culture. With the neglect of orchards, the rapid increase of worm and scab, 
scald and blight the state was rapidly losing its reputation and people were 
beginning to eat bananas from Cuba and oranges from California, in place 
of good apples, pears and Michigan grown grapes. None too soon did 
Michigan take notice of these conditions and set about a much needed re- 
form which is now, 1913, well underway, 

FORESTRY DEPARTMENT. 

The inexhaustaVjle supply of timber was in time found to be fallacious. 
Through the slovenly methods of lumbermen, the reckless waste by fire, as 
the supply of timber rapidly diminished — a few people began to call the alarm, 
even while to the average farmer there seemed to be no danger. To aid 
in inducing better methods, forestry was made a department. 

In 1882, when Dr. Beal ceased to attach to his name "Professor of Botany 
and Horticulture," it became "Botany and Forestry;" not that he was to 
push forestry along as an equal to botany, but to keep it in hand as a nucleus 
for a professor of forestry, when one should be appointed. So far as teaching 
was concerned, it consisted mainly of a course of lectures for one term in 
the year, continuing for twenty-one vears. 

In 1902, stimulated by Hon. C. W. Garfield, 70, the State Board estab- 
lished a "school of forestry." One of the professors was sure the Board 
did not intend to create a new school, that the work was not to be so strong 



144 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL, COLLEGE. 

as that, that the Board did not know just what they wanted. When ques- 
tioned, the president of the Board rephed, "We intend to make the school 
of forestry as distinct as either the school of agriculture or engineering." 

The following was written by J. F. B., in the Junior Annual, class 1911: 

" Dr. Beal first started to plant an assortment of tree species in 1875, thirty- 
eight years ago, 1913, on two acres just northwest of the present site of the 
post office, which is now known as the Arboretum. Few men are allowed 
the privilege of planting chestnuts and acorns and of watching them develop 
through the years, to commercial dimensions. In 1880 Dr. Beal made large 
plantations of different species of forest trees at the Grayling and Au Sable 
Experiment Stations. These, to a large extent, have demonstrated what 
species will and will not do well on the sand plains of the northern portion 
of the state. 

"On December 11, 1894, the following resolution was passed by the State 
Board of Agriculture: 'Resolved that it is the pohcy of the Board to place 
the forest area of the college farm in such a condition as to illustrate, as 
far as possible, the most advanced methods of properly handling woodlands 
for continuous and lasting profits and that the professor of agriculture, with 
the advice of the professor of forestry, is hereby authorized to promptly 
take the measures necessary to as quickly as possible put our woodlands in 
creditable condition.' Thus there was set aside as a working field, 193.6 
acres of the college farm, where the students could observe the different 
phases of forestry work. 

"During the spring of 1896-7, Dr. Beal planted the white pines on the area 
a,cross the road from the extreme eastern portion of the college farm, now 
known as the Pinetum. This small patch of forest has many object lessons 
and should be preserved intact for all time, if for no other reason than to 
stand as a living monument to the labors of the man who may be justly 
called the Father of Michigan Forestry. He has been to the state of 
Michigan what Heinrick Van Cotta was to Saxony." 

ministers' conference. 

The first ministers' conference was held July 12-16, 1910, with sixty per- 
sons in attendance and was a success from every point of view. The sub- 
jects of horticulture and poultry and rural progress were prominent topics. 
A second conference was held a year later, in 1911. 

MAKING AGRICULTURAL EDITORS. 

Of the alumni engaged in agricultural editorial work in 1912 might be 
mentioned Herbert M. CoUingwood, '83, of the Rural New Yorker; M. G. 
Kains, '95, of the American Agriculturalist; Burt Wermuth, '02, of the Michi- 
gan Farmer; H. E. Young, '02, of the Farmers' Review; C. P. Reynolds, '01, 
of the Prairie Farmer; G. C. Seevey, '03, of the Orange Judd Farmer; A. J. 
Anderson, '05, of the Ohio Farmer; and E. B. Reid, '08, of the Oklahoma 
Farmer, with Byron D. Halsted, S. M. Tracy, C. C. LiUie, Don H. Kedzie, 
and others who are now editors or were at one time. 

The catalogue for 1909-10 announces a course known as Enghsh 2k for 
a limited number of selected agricultural seniors who are especially inter- 
ested in learning to express, in simple, accurate, effective English their ideas 
concerning technical subjects. 

Concerning the importance of a course in agricultural journalism, Morris 



COURSES OF STUDY. 145 

G. Kains, '95, of the American Agriculturist, wrote the M. A. C. Record, 
January 2, 1912, giving encouraging advice: 

"My chief regrets in connection with my college work, both at M. A. C. 
and at Cornell University, are that I had insufficient English and no training 
in journalism of any kind. What I learned was by tedious experience and a 
dreary series of blunders. Doubtless had a course in journalism been given 
at the College I might have taken it, because I had my nose pointed toward 
experiment station and college work. All my training has, however, fitted 
me for my present work, which I now see was really far better suited to my 
make up than any college or experiment station position could have been. 

"Let no man hesitate as to the opening for agricultural journalistic work. 
There are over 400 agricultural papers in this country, most of them inferior. 
But there are plenty of good ones. What is needed is the man who has had 
some experience. 

"The student should be able to place articles with the agricultural papers, 
and thus introduce himself to the editor. What does count is the character 
of his copy. If this shows that the man knows how to pick out what is 
helpful, newsy, progressive, and how to come straight to the point in telling 
his story, his copy will always be welcome, and he will be paving the way 
for any position that he may later desire to fill. 

"Too much importance cannot be attached to familiarity with present-day 
and future-day topics that interest, or will likely interest, farmers. Parcel 
post, good roads, consolidated schools, teaching agriculture in rural schools, 
cooperation, the grange, and a hundred other topics, may well occupy his 
spare time for reading, discussion and argument with men who know more 
than he thinks he does. Every opportunity he can get to talk with a stronger 
man should be embraced. Attend every meeting of farmers' organizations 
that he can; visit all sorts of factories where goods are made for farm use; 
attend fairs ; read especially the editorial pages of the best agricultural papers, 
and some of the broadest dailies." 

From year to year the College is becoming more and more a central place 
for holding conventions of all sorts where agriculture, in the broad sense, is 
the leading feature. 

As secretary of the Michigan Improved Live-Stock-Breeders' and Feeders' 
Association, Professor A. C. Anderson, during the year 1908, prepared a hve 
stock directory of the state, which at present (1913) contains the names, 
post office adclresses, and classes of stock reared by over six thousand three 
hundred farmers, stock men and feeders, of Michigan. This more complete 
directory will be of great assistance in extending the influence of the breeders' 
association and in promoting the improvement of live stock. 

During the past year, 1913, Instructor G. A. Brown, the secretary of the 
above association, has acted as an agent or medium of exchange between buyer 
and seller and, by this means, has helped to place much of the surplus pure- 
bred stock where it is much needed. 

About the middle of January, fourteen breeders' associations met at 
the College. In 1912 there was an exhibit of fat swine viewed while living, 
butchered and cut up for examination on the day following. In 1913 there 
was an exhibit of fat lambs viewed in a similar manner. 

SHORT COURSES. 

In his report for 1892, President O. Clute refers to talks concerning a 
short winter course at the College. Former reference has been made to a 
19 



146 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

short course in the summer, as early as 1872, for eight students in chemistry; 
the writer refers to six or eight instructors at the College who took special 
work in botany during a portion of one winter vacation a})out 1903. 

In 1910, special students in short courses were taught in nine different 
kinds of subjects: 

Corn Production, one week 32 students 

Creamery, first year, six weeks 42 " 

Creamery, second year, six weeks 4 " 

Dairy, one week 65 " 

Fruit Growing, four weeks 32 " 

General Agriculture, first year, eight weeks. . . . 127 " 

General Agriculture, second year, eight weeks.. 40 " 

Poultry, eight weeks ". 32 " 

Swine, one week 10 " 



.388 

A short course in dairying was inaugurated by Professor Smith in 1894 
with seventeen students in attendance for six weeks. The next year the 
number of students increased to thirty, and gradually other short courses 
cre]it in and proved profitable and popular till, in 1911, these courses ac- 
conunodated 321 students distributed in general agriculture, creamery, 
poultry, fruit and cheese making. The time for some of these has been in- 
creased to eight weeks, and in some topics, courses more advanced have been 
adopt(Ml for a student in a second year. 

On February 25, 1897, the Board adopted the following: 

"Resolved, That the faculty of the College is hereby requested to consider 
the feasibility of giving a short summer course in normal instruction along 
agricultural lines, adapted to the use of teachers in rural schools, and report 
to the Board at next meeting." 

No action was taken to carry out the provisions of this resolution until 
fourteen years later, in 1911. 

In 1897 the Board of Agriculture called the attention of the college faculty 
and council of the station to the desirability of putting into book or pamphlet 
form lessons in familiar science as applied to rural occupations, to be used 
as reading text for advanced classes in our rural schools. 

In response to this request. Dr. Beal prepared nine bulletins on elementary 
science, which were well received. 50,000 copies of each were printed, 
of which 30,000 were left in the hands of the superintendent of public in- 
struction for distribution. No other members of the faculty responded to 
tlie request. 

The two-years course in agriculture, an outgrowth of the short courses, 
began in the fall of 1913. This course provides instruction during fifteen 
weeks of the winter months, during two years. 

RESIDENT GRADUATES. 

For many years there have been some resident graduates in attendance 
working for a second degree. There has been no special provision made 
nor had there been a dean to systematize and encourage the attendance of 
this class of student; besides the faculty have had all they could do with 
teaching students in the four year courses and also during portions of the 
year, students in the short courses. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 147 

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. 

Beginning at Ohio University, in the summer of 1904, a school was held 
for four weeks, intended especially for teachers and experimenters, the in- 
structors chiefly coming from various land-grant colleges. This school is 
migratory, and so far has been held once in two years, four others have been 
held, one at IlUnois, one at Cornell and one at Iowa. The fifth session was 
held at the Michigan Agricultural College, beginning July 1, 1912, in the 
Agricultural Building, Secretary A. M. Brown, Registrar; Dr. A. C. True, 
of the Office of Experiment Stations, Washington, D. C, Dean. 

This school was in session during four weeks; is held once in two years 
at some Agricultural College and is managed chiefly by Dr. A. C. True of 
the U. S. Department of Agriculture. 

A school of home economics held at the same time and place was presided 
over by Mrs. AUce P. Norton of the University of Chicago. 

Engineering Division. 

In 1885 when Hon. Edwin Willits was invited to become president, one of 
the conditions of his acceptance hinged on an act of the Board of Agriculture 
establishing an engineering division. 

The Morrill Act of 1862, provided for instruction in mechanic arts (en- 
gineering) as well as in agriculture. Why a course in engineering was not 
established at once, after the ])rovisions of this act had been accepted by the 
state legislature. President Abl;)ot tells in an address given on another page. 

Engineering of a kind was contemplated at the very establishment of the 
College and certain branches of engineering study were authorized in the 
first curriculum, nearly six years before the national land grant. 

At the meeting of the board of education on Dec. 2, 1856, instruction in 
English, mathematical and scientific courses were ordered. "The mathe- 
matical course shall include algebra, geometry, trigonometry, surveying, 
agricultural engineering, drafting, natural philosophy and book-keeping." 

On Oct. 22, 1857, the Board "Resolved, that Professor C. Tracy be author- 
ized to purchase a surveyor's compass and level, with the necessary ap- 
paratus for surveying and leveHng, for the use of the Agricultural College." 

On April 6, 1859, it was "Voted that Mr. Cleveland Abbe be employed 
as tutor in the Agricultural College to teach civil engineering, etc." 

Subsequent to the passage of the Morrill Act of 1862, the recognition of 
mechanic arts was officially considered by the Board of Agriculture from time 
to time, but not until 1882 was active interest shown. 

On March 14, 1882, "It was resolved that Mr. Reynolds and Professor 
Carpenter be a committee to take into consideration the feasibility of es- 
tablishing a mechanical department in the College and to suggest plans and 
make estimates for the same." 

The matter was then dropped and not revived until the election of the 
Hon. Edwin Willits as President of the College in 1885. 

On Jan. 8, 1885, it was "Resolved that Lewis McLouth be and is hereby 
appointed Professor of Mechanics at the Agricultural College with a salary 
at the rate of two thousand dollars a year, salary to begin July 1, 1885, pro- 
vided that the estimates made by this board to the Legislature for the es- 
tablishment of a mechanical department are approved and an appropriation 
made." 

The legislature appropriated $7,800 for a building, with which was con- 



148 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



striieted the major part of the present shop building from plans prepared 
by Professor R. C. Carpenter. 

The purpose of the Board was to establish: "a first class school of technol- 
ogy in which shall be taught the principles upon which the leading industries of 
the country are based, with a full line of instruction in the use of tools and 
the construction of mechanical products, according to the best approved 
plans of such institutions in this country and in Europe. Special facilities 
will be furnished for instruction and practice in free-hand drawing and in 
draughting, and in experimental physics, with unexcelled advantages in 
those branches of mathematics and the sciences involved in scientific me- 
chanics. Daily work will be required in the shops. Instruction will also 
be afforded in the English language, book-keeping and the business law, so 
that each student shall be well fitted by a general and business as well as a 
technical education for any position he may seek. The requirements for 
admission shall be the same as for the other departments of the college. 




First engineering laboratory and shops. 



"Circulars with full course of study and full explanation of the work to 
be done will be sent on application on and after July 15th, next." 

At the opening of the next school year, September 1885, about 40 students 
enrolled in the "mechanical department" as the new course was called. 

In the meantime President Willits and Professor McLouth had visited 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute and other Institutions for information upon 
which to build a curriculum and to plan the material equipment for the new 
work. 

In 1888 the first graduates, three in number, from the Mechanical de- 
partment received their diplomas. In 1889 the course was designated as a 
course In mechanical engineering and an alternative five-year course was 
authorized for the benefit of students to whom the advantages of a complete 
high-school preparation were not available. In 1901 the course was desig- 
nated as the "mechanical course" and the options In civil engineering In 
the junior and senior years were offered to those who wished to prepare for 
work In that field. In 1906 the catalogue contained, for the first time, options 



COURSES OP STUDY. 



149 



in electrical engineering. In 1907, the present designation, engineering 
course, was adopted, and the professor of mechanical engineering was con- 
stituted the dean of engineering. In 1909, mathematics and civil engineering 
were made separate departments and the division of engineering was formally 
organized to include the departments of civil engineering, drawing and de- 
sign, mechanical engineering, physics and electrical engineering. 




In 1907, the new engineering hall was occupied by the departments above 
mentioned and the old building was converted entirely to shop purposes. 
In June, 1908, at the commencement time, engineering hall was formally 
dedicated, the address being given by Professor R. C. Carpenter of Cornell 
University. In June, 1910, the completion of a quarter century of the en- 
gineering course at the College was suitably observed by a special reunion 
of graduates and former students of the course. 



150 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Since the establishment of engineering at the college there have been 
graduated from the course 550 men and many times that number have taken 
the partial courses. Since the introduction of optional work in civil engineer- 
ing a majority of upper classmen have elected to take that work. 

Division of Home Economics. 

The importance of education for girls has long been receiving more and 
more attention with the passing years. 

In 1849, Hon, E. H. Lothrop, in an address before the State Agricultural 
Society in Detroit, thus speaks regarding home economics for women: 

"As I have impressed strongly on those gentlemen who have sons, the im- 
portance of educating them thoroughly in the business in which they are 
destined to follow, let me say a word to you who have daughters. In addition 
to a daily and thorough training in the care and labor of the dairy and all 
household affairs, educate them in everything that will have a tendency to 
make them plain, modest, scnsiljle, and useful women and fit companions for 
those of our sons who shall bec^ome scientific and practical farmers. Teach 
them that industry is honorable and adds to their charms, and that the 
domestic circle is to be the theater of their future fame and glory." 

Next came the attention to co-education. Girls and boys had "always" 
attended common schools together. They had met in the same classes, in 
academies and seminaries, and normal schools. Oberlin College opened 
her doors to women as well as men, including negroes, in 1833. 

After making many, many inquiries and discussing the subject from all 
sides, the regents decided, in 1870, to open the doors of the University, 
giving women the same privileges as men. One woman attended the first 
year, from February, 1870, to commencement, and in the fall of 1871 thirty- 
four attended. In 1871, Amanda Sanford, a former student of the writer, 
was graduated from the medical school of the university. 

Although the Agricultural College was established apparently for teaching 
young men in the science and art of agriculture, with very little noise about 
it, ten women, the first ever admitted to the College, were in attendance in 
1870, beginning February 23. 

I give their names: 

Isabel Allen, Lansing,Mich. 

Catherine C. Bacon, Lansing, Mich, 

Ella Brock, Lansing, Mich. 

Mary E. Daniells, Wacousta, Mich. 

Harriet A. Dexter, Ionia, Mich. 

Gertrude Howe, Lansing, Mich. 

Emma H. Hume, Medina, Mich. 

Mary L. Jones, Lansing, Mich. 

Ehzabeth E. Sessions, Ionia, Mich. 

Catherine E. Steele, North Henderson, lUinois, 

In his report for 1870, President Abbot has the following to say concerning 
ladies as students. 

"Applications for admission of ladies have been and still are frequent and 
urgent. The faculty admitted a few, who occupy rooms of the floor of the 
steward's family, or in private houses. They studied chemistry, botany. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 151 

horticulture, floriculture, trigonometry, surveying, entomology, book-keep- 
ing, and other branches. Their progress in study was rapid and their im- 
provement marked. 

"Work was furnished them when it could be; they prepared seed for the 
ground, cut potatoes, transplanted tomatoes and flowering plants, pruned 
shrubl^erv, gathered small fruit, did some work in the greenhouse and many 
other kinds of work. 

"The experiment of having women as students has worked so successfully 
that there would be no hesitation in admitting them if there were a hall for 
them." 

The next is from President Willits in 1886: 

"M any ladies would find our course of study agreeable and useful. They 
would find a knowledge of scientific principles comprising as much additional 
interest and delight to them in the practice of floriculture, the care of gar- 
dens, ornamental shrubs, and orchards, in the operations of the kitchen, and 
in their general reading, as it does to men. Women are frequently left in 
circumstances where they would highly prize some knowledge of agriculture. 

"The applications of chemistry to women's work arc so many that a half 
year's course of daily lectures would not be too long a one. Among these ap- 
lications are, cooking, preserving of fruits, utilization of materials usually 
wasted, cleansing by acids and soaps, bleaching, manufacture of soaps of 
different kinds, disinfection, fermentation, and neutralization of poisons. 
A course of lectures in dairying is now given every year. 

"Women are turning their attention more and more to studies such as are 
taught here. Some would like the out-of-door labor, some the aid which the 
compensation for their labor would afford them in acquiring an education; 
and it is to be regretted that they cannot avail themselves of the same privilege 
here that is offered the young man. 

"A strong pressure comes from many quarters for accomodations for ladies. 
Now that the College is open to them, it amounts to a practical prohibition. 
We have twelve lady students who find rooms with the professors, or come 
from their homes daily from the surrounding country. I believe that it is 
desirable that the number be increased." 

The preceding paragraphs give us no intimation of what came later by way 
of instruction in cooking, sewing and other things known as home economics. 

With a few scattering years of interruption, women have attended the Agri- 
cultural College ever since the year 1870. 

PRACTICAL EDUCATION FOR YOUNG WOMEN. 

The following on practical education for young women is by Mrs. Perry 
Mayo of Battle Creek, long a leader in the grange. This was given about 
1894. It matters little because she spoke in a similar manner previous to 
this date and often for more than fifteen years. 

"Hon. John A. Anderson, a former President of Kansas Agricultural Col- 
lege, said, 'A girl has a right to an education as precisely adapted to woman's 
work as is a boy's preparatory to man's work.' 

" What is woman's work? By a wise and supreme law a majority of young 
women are destined to become wives and mothers; to establish and keep the 
home, care for it, work for it, live for it, and for this most important work 
they should be carefully, thoroughly, competently trained. As to the ad- 
visability of such a training there can be no question. 

"One of our greatest needs is better homes, better fathers and mothers; 



152 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

fathers who realize the responsibilities of fatherhood and are fitted for them; 
mothers who are conscious that the crowning glory of their lives is motherhood 
and that their greatest concern shall be to make wise, true mothers ; who shall 
be able to give to their children strong bodies, clear brains and natures capable 
of grand development. 

"Most parents are anxious that their daughters shall receive something 
of an education. They attend the common schools and pass to the high 
school, choose a course of study, graduate. They take Latin, French, Ger- 
man, mathematics, astronomy, music, and history, all excellent for mental 
development. Most of these young women are daughters of lal)oring people 
and expect, upon graduating, to earn their living. How many of these 
graduates are thoroughly fitted for any one thing that shall win for them 
food and shelter? A few may teach, many go into shops, factories, offices 
and some as domestics, all unskilled. Many marry, and frequently men 
with small incomes. How many know from practical teaching how to care 
for a home, to manage in a wise, prudent manner the small salary and keep 
the family comfortable, healthy and happy? They must manage, must 
cook, must work; but at what a great disadvantage, without any previous 
preparation. Miss Sill, a professional cook says, 'One-third of the food in 
the average family is wasted for lack of knowledge in managing, saving, and 
properly cooking.' 

' 'If our young women were thoroughly skilled in cooking, physiology, 
hygiene, the proper care of children and the home, many of the social and 
poor problems would be solved. 

"There are no reasons why young women should not receive training in 
dairying, floriculture, landscape gardening and horticulture, if they desire it. 

"Thinking parents of to-day are anxious that their daughters shall be as 
thoroughly trained for the practical work of their lives as their sons. They 
know that the life that is before them will be intensely practical, and for it 
they must be prepared. Demands will be made upon them for skilled hands 
and trained minds that they may be masters of their work and not slaves 
to it. 

"If they should never assume the duties of home and its responsibilities, 
let them at least be so educated as to be self-sustaining. We expect it of 
our sons, we demand it; why not of our daughters?" 

From a supposed debate at Wolf Creek, by James Y. Clark, '85. October 1, 
1883, appeared in the Speculum: 

"The boys no more are rough and rude, their actions have a manlier tone 

Than when, as in the days of yore, we fellows 'ruled the roost' alone. 

And now, kind friends, advice to you, I'm sure you'll take quite kindly; 

Look at this matter, fair and square, not as before, so blinclly. 

Do you not see, your daughters can, with only half the meagre chance 

You give your lazy, worthless sons, the broad domain of Truth advance; 

And so, to give the State's fair school the honor that is due, 

You'd better send your sons out there, and send your daughters too." 

The first woman to graduate (1879) was Eva Diann Coryell (Mrs. William 
Mc Bain), Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

A course in home economics for the instruction of women was established 
in 1895, making use of Abbot Hall as dormitory and laboratory for cooking, 
sewing and calisthenics. 

For long years previous, the education of women in home economics in con- 



COURSES OF STUDY. 153 

nection with other subjects had been advocated by large numbers of members 
of the grange, professors in colleges, and others. 

A bill was introduced in two or three or more sessions of the legislature, 
previous to the one making small provisions for beginning the work. Why 
did not the first bill or the second one pass? The committees of the senate 
and house found out that some members of the State Board and of the faculty 
were opposed to co-education, at least at M. A. C. 

Apparently for the sake of economy, legislators are always pleased to 
find some excuse for lopping off something from the estimated cost. 

They reasoned in this wav : as there is a difference of opinion on the matter, 
bv those in connection with the College, we have a good reason for cutting 
out that portion of the bill to make provisions for a department of home 
economics. But in a case like this nothing can stop the avalanche of public 

Ci f^TY\ f^ 71 c\ 

Concerning domestic art, I quote Mrs. Jennie L. K. Haner, in the M. A. C. 
Recordof May 14, 1901. . , . .. , tii 

''This consists in manual training, or the developing of dexterity and skill 
in needlecraft. First, general instruction is given, regarding the materials 
and implements used; thread, needles and pins, thimble, scissors, _ tape 
measure, emery, etc., followed by a few general rules regarding the positions 
of the body and the most economical expenditure of its vital force. 

"During all the course care is exercised in the training of judgment, by 
sight and by mind, of taste, appropriateness of beauty and utility, always 
keeping first in thought the greatest usefulness for which each thing is m- 

''Does it pay? Yes, for anything which helps the young woman to the 
larger and fuller development of her powers along the idea of true education 
and true womanliness makes her a better, nobler, more useful member m 
the great socio y in which she is obhged to live, and we can say that sewmg, 
dressmaking, art needlework, millinery, cooking and manual training m all 
its forms do help a girl to become a good girl, a better woman and a more 
useful citizen." 

THE SENIOR WOMEN. 

Not only do young men in agriculture, horticulture, forestry, engineering, 
visit fairs, meetings of societies, factories, to gather points, but the women 
as well, visit bakeries, the kitchens of hotels, condensed-milk factories; in 
May, 1909, one class went to Saginaw, East and West Sides, to take notes on 
teaching domestic art and domestic science in the schools. 

Edith Richert, for the Ladies' Home Journal, asked large numbers ot 
alumnae, where the college failed with girls. In the summary of rephes, 
occurs this statement: "Domestic science, in the broadest sense of the term, 
which includes cooking and dietetics, sanitation, the management of the 
household, home economics and the various domestic arts, is the subject 
which has been most keenly missed by the largest number of the alumnae. 

In planning the courses of the division of home economics at M. A. C., 
the committee cannot be criticised in this particular. The aim is to tram 
for efficiency in the duties of home Hfe. 

Co-education at M. A. C. has proved a successful venture, notwithstanding 
the oft-repeated statement of President Snyder, that nothing m connection 
with the College brings up more perplexing problems, and those continually, 
than the presence of women at this College. 



154 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE!. 



The Division of Veterinary Medicine. 

In his second report, December 1, 1858, President Williams observes that 
"A veterinary professorship is fundamental to the very idea of an agricultural 
college." 




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Sometime along in 1874 and later, Hon. R. E. Trowbridge, a former member 
of congress and then the first Master of Capitol Grange, of Lansing, lived on 
the farm of United States Senator Zachariah Chandler, situated about three 
miles due north, across the marsh, from the College. He was fond of good 



COURSES OF STUDY. 155 

horses and cattle and began to talk of the need of some one at the College to 
teach veterinary science. Lecturing frequently at granges, farmers' clubs, 
and live-stock associations, as time went on, he urged the project with much 
force. To a limited extent Dr. Miles touched occasionally on the accidents 
and diseases of domestic animals. In teaching comparative anatomy and 
physiology, Professor Cook covered a part of the ground of veterinary science. 
In 1881, we find in the catalogue the name of A. J. Murraj^, V. S., Lecturer 
in veterinary of the Agricultural College, lecturing to the senior class, every 
week for one-half of the summer term, a period of about six weeks. Althovigh 
the next year no one appears in the catalogue under that title, Dr. Murray 
gave a short course of lectures the same as during the previous year, and the 
next year a blank line appears over the words "Veterinary Science." In 
1883 Professor E. A. A. Grange, V. S., taught a whole term of veterinary 
science. Beginning the next autumn, he taught during all the three terms 
of the senior year. 

From 1885-97, Dr. Grange was also state veterinarian; at the latter date 
he resigned to become dean of the veterinary department of the Detroit 
College of Medicine. He was succeeded, 1897, by George Alfred Waterman, 
B. S., M. D. C, a graduate of the College in 1892, and later a graduate of 
Chicago Veterinary College. 

Dr. Waterman filled his position at M. A. C. with eminent success, but 
chose to resign in 1907 and move to his farm at Ann Arbor, where he makes a 
specialty of raising high bred cattle. 

Dr. Leshe Milton Hurt, D. V. M., graduate of Iowa State College, was 
appointed, September 1908, to succeed Dr. Waterman and served until 
January 1, 1910, when he resigned. Professor Waterman lectured in vet- 
erinary medicine to the short course students and some others, during the 
winter term of 1910. Dr. Ward Giltner completed the work of the year. 

The present division of veterinary medicine had its origin in the act of the 
state legislature approving Public Act 97, May 22, 1907, which is entitled 
"An Act to Provide for the Establishment of a Department of Veterinary 
Science at the M. A. C." 

"The people of the State of Michigan enact: Section 1. The State 
Board of Agriculture is hereby authorized and empowered to establish a 
department at the Michigan Agricultural College to be known as the De- 
partment of Veterinary Science." 

"Section 2. The said State Board of Agriculture may provide suitable 
accommodations for class and demonstrating rooms; may appoint such 
professors of veterinary science and such tutors, demonstrators and other 
instructors as may from time to time be necessary; may furnish all necessary 
apparatus and appliances for the study of veterinary science; may prescribe 
and regulate the course of study; may make such rules and regulations as 
may be necessary, and may grant to each student satisfactorily completing 
the prescribed course of study a diploma and confer upon each such student 
the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine." 

Subsequent action by the State Board of Agriculture on October 21, 1909, 
authorized a veterinary course in connection with this institution, under 
the designation of the Veterinary division. 

This action on the part of the Board marks another milestone in the effort 
to make the College serve the highest interests of the state. 

In the fall of 1910, Dr. Richard Pope Lyman, B. S., M. D. V. (Harvard), 
was appointed as dean of the division of veterinary medicine and professor 



156 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

of veterinary medicine, and at once undertook the organization of the new 
school. 

Students were admitted to the freshman and sophomore years of this 
course for the first time during the college year 1910-1911. It is the aim of 
the new division to maintain a college of veterinary medicine with the high- 
est ideals and to train its students to be veterinarians competent to recognize, 
cope with and suppress all animal ailments or plagues, and so aid in lessening 
the diseases among animals, as well as cooperate in the protection of human 
health and life against diseases of animal origin. It almost goes without 
saying that such work is one phase of agricultural education, and should be 
developed and carried on under the auspices of this institution. 

The State Board of Agriculture will confer the degree of Doctor of Veter- 
inary Medicine (D. V. M.) upon candidates who have successfully pursued 
the course as outlined in the curriculum. The work of the division is of 
especially high character, and the course of study covers a period of four 
years of under-graduate work. 

The instruction includes courses in anatomj^, animal husbandry, bacteri- 
ology, hygiene, pathology, botany, chemistry, surgical and medical clinics, 
dairy husbandry, English, entomology, farm mechanics, veterinary medicine, 
pharmacology, physiology, surgery, zoology and zootechnics. 

Division of Science and Ai't. 

For the purpose of bringing these four divisions into closer relation, the 
division of science and art was estabhshed at the same time as the veter- 
inary medicine but there is no intention to offer courses in those topics 
leading to a degree. 

Departments of botany, chemistry, entomology, zoology and bacteriology 
are to some extent independent of the divisions above given but each renders 
very essential aid in teaching the sciences that pertain to agriculture, home 
economics and veterinary medicine. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 157 



CHAPTER X. 



COLLEGE EXTENSION WORK. 



As applied to Michigan Agricultural College, extension work refers to all \ 

efforts made to help people who are not in attendance at the college, whether j 

the topics are in line of agriculture, engineering, home economics,, forestry, i 

veterinary or any other pursuit whatever. John Hamilton of the United ■ 

States Department of Agriculture enumerates thirty-four lines of extension ^ 

work : j 

LIST OF EXTENSION ACTIVITIES. ) 

Conducting or assisting in farmers' institutes. ! 
Equipping and conducting demonstration trains. 

Organizing and carrying on movable schools of agriculture. l 

Conducting correspondence and reading courses. j 
Providing and installing exhibits and agricultural demonstrations at state 

and county fairs. ! 

Carrjdng on field demonstrations. j 

Conducting farm inspection work. < 

Delivering lectures and conducting demonstrations in farm manag ment. ] 

Lecturing on highway improvement. i 

Organizing and conducting corn and stock judging contests. j 

Holding district short courses in agriculture and domestic science. | 

Lecturing before special-subject institutes. j 

Analyzing commercial fertiUzers. ] 
Inspecting nurseries. 

Conducting demonstration work on county poor farms. 

Sending out peripatetic expert advisers. j 

Organizing boys' and girls' clubs. j 

Preparing bulletins for the press. ] 

Public school lectures and demonstrations. j 

Conducting boys' encampments. I 
Cooperative work with high schools. 
Lecturing at educational and agricultural conventions. 
Holding conferences on rural progress. 

Conducting pruning and spraying demonstrations. i 

Organizing breeders' associations and clubs. ■ 

Conducting agricultural surveys. • 

Lecturing before county teachers' associations. i 

Lecturing before county agricultural societies. ; 
Giving courses of lectures on rural betterment. 

Conducting school garden work. ; 

Organizing farmers' clubs. = 
Organizing corn improvement associations. 

Cooperating with boards of trade in marketing produce. ■ 

Cooperating with the Y. M. C. A. associations in social betterment. I 



158 HISTORY OF MK'UKJAN AGUlCULTdRAL COLLEGE. 

To this list I add dcnionstraticni and lectures in cooking, nianagenKuit of 
children or any other feature of household economy. Of this number of 
lines of work or similar work Michigan has undertak(>n at least thirty-five, 
and lack of adeciuate means is tlu; only reason why the college is not cjuad- 
rui)ling the for(;e to attack new ])hases of these })rol)lems and other jjroblems 
with gi'cater energy. 

At this stag(! of the game 1 liardly n(M'(l to refer to an idea ])revalent twenty 
years ago and earlier in some (juarters that the chief work performed by the 
Agri(*ultural College is teaching such people as may come to the college for 
a longer or shorter course of study. The truth is that the Agricultural 
('ollege does, and legitimately too, a vast amount of work which has nothing 
to do immediately witii the students within its walls, l)ut which is designed 
primarily for the benefit of thos(> who cannot, or will not, come to the College 
as students. In ihe words of Dr. ]<]ug(Mie Davenport: "Tlu^ Agricultural 
College has developed from a narrow technical school for individuals of a 
singl(M'lass into a public service instiiiition of the widest sc()i)e and the gi-eat- 
est magnitude." 

Of all th(\s(^ nu^thods of extension teaching 1 ])!ace the in.slitiilc first as it 
gradually leads up to all other forms. 

As John Hamilton says, 

"Until the institute came, the ordinary farmer had no school of instruction 
to which he (lould go for information res))ecting his calling. In most in- 
stances he IkuI no knowledge of what was doing for the benefit of agricultun\" 
The institutes have the advantage over bulletins and r(>ading courses in that 
they bring live men ;uid women fac(^ to face where they can ask (luestions, 
talk back, gain enthusiasm and form new resolutions. 

In 1875 the college was still small, little known and unpo])ular, and to 
se(!ure a small appro{)riation from each legislature was a diflicult i)roceeding. 
Members of th(> faculty freciu(Mitly discussed the subject and all agr(>ed tliat 
something should b(^ done to relieve the strain. Dr. Miles had previously 
given a course of lectures at the Agricultural College of the University of 
Illinois, then known as the Industi'ial University, where at the initiative of 
Ivegent J. M. (Jregory, a former Michigan man, they had inaugurated each 
year for four years a, series of farmers' institutes with excellent results. Presi- 
dent Abbot was willing that i\\v faculty should undertake the work in Michi- 
gan, but for his part he didn't know that he could do anything about it. A 
committee was appointed consisting of Dr. Kedzie, Professors lieal and 
Carpenter to perfect plans and with the approval of the State Board of 
Agriculture to go ahead the following winter, 1876 and '77. The amount 
of money at our dispersal was very small, $300 per year, I believe, for con- 
ducting six instit-ut(\s. We practiced the most rigid economy. Several 
of us thought that if the plan for six was a good thing, more would l)e still 
l)(>tter, but Dr. K(>d/ie was confident that if we went beyond six or eight a 
year the work would soon be overdone and farmers would lose interest. 
The ])laiis for conducting our institutes were essentially copied from those 
of Illinois. Details of managc^ment and new points were industriously 
studied and improvcnnents came with experience. 

Two institutes were held, the first beginning on January 1 1, 187G, and each 
continued for two days with five sessions. One was held at Allegan, the other 
at Armada. This inauguration of farmers' institutes was one of far-reaching 
and striking importance. It was one of the milestones of progress for the 
Michigan Agricultural Coll(>ge. 

During the years from 1870 to 1889, inclusive, the number of institutes 



COURSES OF STUDY. 159 

for each year ivmainod tlio sanio. The six iiKM^tinss wore scattorod over the 
state, involving the expeniUture of hirger sums for travehng expenses than 
would have been necessary had tiiey be(>n located on th(> lines of connecting 
roads and within very easy reach of each other. 

In 1890 it was thought best by the Board to try and connect the in- 
stitutes in series, thus making the appropriation go farther in the way of 
expenses, and possibly hold double the number. Through considerable 
effort and correspondence, the committee having institutes in charge located 
four in the east, four in the west and three in the northern part of the state. 
It was found on trial to work admirably. A part of the force from the Col- 
lege opiMied tlu^ n(^arest institute in a series on Monday evening, going on to 
open the next on Tuesday evening, and the remainder of the lectures fol- 
lowed up to continue and (^lose the first meeting on Tuesday night. Thus 
four institutes could be held in the same week, if they were not too far apart, 
antl close up the work on Friday night ready to return on Saturday. 

The experience of this year was so satisfactory that sixteen institutes 
were ])lanned in 1891, and successfully conducted, the expense, however, 
exceeding the a])pro])riation by a small amoimt. A larger approi)riation 
was asked of the l(>gislature then in session, and was granted, so that in 1892 
twenty short institutes were held, and two long ones each continuing four 
days. 

It is well ])erhaps in this connection to show what was appropriated by 
the state for the expenses attending the holding of the 110 institutes for the 
sixteen years. In 1877 the l(>gislalure a-p|)roi)riat(>d ,f500; in 1879, $()()(); 
1881, $600; 1883, IGOO; 1885, SGOO; 1887, ICUH); 1889, $1,500, a total of $5,800. 
The average ex])(>nse for each institute was $50. 

The farmers where an institute was held furnished the hall and did most 
of the advertising. A member of the faculty was selected to visit the ])e()i)l(^ 
where the institute was to be held, and in a, measure sujxM-vised the ])r()gram. 
Exi)erience taught that most farmers could attend day sessions better 
than livening sessions. In January, '80, the institutes began in the forenoon, 
continued during the afternoon and evening and the \\v\t day closing with an 
afternoon session. 

In 1890 eleven were held in three groups, western, northern and eastern 
with reference to economy of time and travel of thos(> who lectured. 

Beginning in the summer of 1895, a law came into eff(>ct establishing :m 
institute system, making an npj)ro))riation therefor and i)Iacing it in the 
hands of tlie State Board of Agriculture. Kenyon L. l^utterfield was ap- 
pointed Sui)erintendent of Institutes, with an ap])n)priation of $5,000 ])er 
year at his disjiosal. He conducted institutes with marked system, economy 
and thoroughness. 

To secure a farmers' institute, application was made by ofHcers of a county 
institute society, or an active county agricultural society. 

In the fall of 1895 and winter of 189(), there were held seventy institutes 
in as many counties of the state, besides these tlu^ plan was inaugurated of 
holding for four days at the close of the season what was termed a ''round-u)) 
farmers' institute." 

For two winters the plan was tried of renting a large convenient building 
in which a ca])able woman h'ctured in connection with demonstrations in 
cooking of some important articles of foods. Large numbers attended, 
more than could possibly witness what was taking place on one range or 
one gasoline stove. 

In 1896, during a portion of the time a woman's section was held, and for 



160 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

a few years, a mechanical section. It has become the policy of the Board 
to hold every alternate year, the round-up at .'the Agricultural College. 

In November, previous to the institutes to be held in 1897, there was 
gathered at the College a conference of institute workers. 

Each morning at the round-up, there was held a conference of institute 
lecturers, and each afternoon after the close of the institute the officers of 
county institute societies held conferences to discuss methods of advertising, 
preparing programs and similar topics. 

On his second year of supervision, Mr. Butterfield planned a series of one- 
day institutes in two counties; these meetings to be held in portions of the 
county remote from the county seat. The expense was moderate, the work 
highly satisfactory. 

Following the one-day meetings of a county came a longer meeting at 
some central point. This plan proved ideal and has been continued in some 
counties ever since. 

Lccal exhibits of grains, fruits and vegetables, have often been made. 
In the fall and winter of 1896-7 there were held sevent}^ institutes with a 
report of attendance at each session. Mr. Butterfield's third year was the 
most successful of all with some perfection of plans and additional details. 
"He broached the feasibility of holding separate sections for women to Mrs. 
Mary A. Mayo and, upon her approval, asked her to lead the work. When 
asked how the plan suggested by Mr. Butterfield had appealed to her at 
first, she said: "My heart just throbbed. It was what I had long wanted 
to do. He asked me what I would talk about. They were strong subjects 
that I suggested and I know we discussed the matter of how they would be 
received but it was decided to try it." 

Mrs. Mayo chose for her first topics at these meetings, "Mother and 
Daughter" and "Making Farm Work Easier." She spoke usually without 
notes, talking simply and directly from her heart and experience, face to face 
with those who came to hear her. The results surprised the most sanguine. 
The meetings for women proved unique and far-reaching. 

"Reports show that 5,309 women attended Mrs. Mayo's sections that 
first year at twenty institutes, including the state meeting. The reports 
were overwhelmingly in favor of the continuance of the woman's section 
as a distinct feature of our institute work. 

Kenyon L. Butterfield, manager of institutes says: 

"The idea of a state round-up was borrowed from the state of Wisconsin, 
where they have had such meetings for ten or a dozen years. At our first 
round-up held at Grand Rapids in 1896, we followed the Wisconsin idea, 
though making a special effort to secure quite a large attendance from all 
over the state. In this we succeeded fairly well. 

"This year, 1897, we decided to strike off from the beaten path and de- 
termined to make the round-up something more than an immense country 
meeting, giving it, if possible, a character which would induce attendance 
from all portions of the state. 

"Our own state lecturers, except in a few cases, did not repeat the lectures 
which they had been giving throughout the winter, and the program was 
made up wholly with reference to what seemed to be the demands of the 
occasion. 

"The results of the meeting have abundantly justified our idea, and we 
are firmly convinced that the Michigan idea of a round-up is the correct one, 
and one which is productive of the most lasting benefit. Nearly fifty counties 
of the state were represented, including every county but twQ in central and 



COURSES OF STUDY. IGl 

southern Michigan, and many of the northern counties. More than two 
hundred people came a distance of over 25 miles to attend the meeting. 
It was a splendid audience, the like of which has rarely been gathered to- 
gether in the agricultural history of Michigan. We believe it to have been 
the most representative body of farmers which ever gathered in Michigan 
to discuss practical farm topics. 

"From the institute stand-point, one of the most important features of 
the meeting were the conferences of institute officers, of whom there were 
nearly fifty in attendance. 

"At these conferences subjects pertaining to the details of institute work 
were discussed, such as making up the program, advertising, getting members, 
the woman's section, etc., etc. No sessions of the main institute proper 
were crowded with more earnest discussions than took place in these con- 
ferences. 

"There is no question but the round-up helped the College. It has also 
aided in strengthening our institute system in the minds of the intelligent 
farmers in the state. We believe that everyone in attendance went back 
home enthusiastic for institute work." 

"For the purpose of getting more young people to attend the farmer's 
institutes, the superintendent of institutes, in cooperation with the College, 
has inaugurated a series of contests among high school pupils of the state. 
The plan is to have the high school pupils attend a full session of the in- 
stitute in their town. The best report, as determined by a committee ap- 
pointed by the superintendent of the schools, is sent to the College to enter 
into competition with reports from other schools. The best five reports as 
determined by the department of English at the College, will be published 
and well distributed. The College offers a premium to the most successful 
competitor; to the person sending in the best essay the Agricultural College 
will remit room rent for one year; this will amount to about $15.00 or $20.00 
according to the room chosen." 

Quite a number of high schools have entered into these contests and from 
some as many as 250 pupils have attended the institutes; though, of course, 
only a few, in each instance, took part in the contest. In all, about 40 
pupils wrote reports of the December institute; and about 60 wrote reports 
of January and February institutes. For some reason, this plan for se- 
curing reports was discontinued. 

Mr. Butterfield left the work in a high state of perfection for his successor. 

In the summer of 1900, on the resignation of K. L. Butterfield, Professor 
C. D. Smith was placed in charge of farmers' institutes. In his first report 
Professor Smith said, "An advanced step of no inconsiderable importance 
was the grouping of counties of allied and similar interests in such a wa^^ as 
to economize the time of the workers and expense of railroad fare and hotel." 

For the first time in 1901 the experiment was tried at the round-up of 
dividing the attendance into three sections, the general farm section, the 
fruit section, and the woman's section which met each afternoon. One-day 
institutes were more numerous, Allegan county having held forty-nine of 
them, reaching nearly every township in the county. At the request of the 
Political Science Association, a joint meeting was held continuing four clays. 

After four years, in May, 1902, Professor L. R. Taft, was made super- 
intendent of institutes. 

During the season of 1904, Superintendent Taft reported seventy-three 
institutes of two days duration, and two hundred and nineteen one-day 
institutes. 

21 



162 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"In a large numljcr of counties, applications for additional meetings had 
to be refused and, as the applications for one-day institutes next year is con- 
sideraljly larger than that of one year ago, it is evident that it will be pos- 
sible to hold only a small jiroportion of the institutes for which application 
has been made. 

"As a rule, two men and one woman speaker were sent to each two-day 
institute but, in a number of cases, special talks upon 'Good Roads,' 'Farm 
Law,' 'Veterinary Science' and educational topics were arranged for. For 
the most part, two speakers appeared upon the program in the forenoon 
and three in the afternoon and evening of each day. 

"During the afternoon session of the first day, the lady speaker took up, 
in the general session, some topics relative to the household or perhaps 
'Poultry Raising' or 'Butter Making on the Farm,' and the second afternoon 
conducted a women's section. 

The separate women's sections appear to be growing in interest and at- 
tendance." 

K. L. Butterfield in 1901 said, "Michigan may well be proud of her record 
in relation to this important phase of rural education. Our state was not 
the first to hold meetings of farmers — such meetings were held early in the 
century just closed; we were not the first to agitate the holding of farmers' 
meetings with some degree of regularity and the calling of them farmers' 
institutes — the secretary of the Massachusetts board of agriculture as early 
as 1853 recommended this; we were not the first state actually to hold in- 
stitutes — Illinois may claim that honor with a record going back to 1869; 
we were not the first state to establish a state-wide system of institutes,, 
putting them into every county — Ohio justly claims to have begun that in 
1880-1881. But Michigan was the first state to enact a law, which was done 
in 1861, providing for lectures to those not students of the college; the first, 
I believe, to make a state ap])ropriation for farmers' institutes; the first to 
establish institutes as a permanent and regular phase of work for the college 
professors. 

"It was about 1893 that the grange took the leadership in the increasing 
call for more institutes, inaugurating and forwarding to a successful issue 
a campaign which resulted in the present institute system of Michigan. In 
the State Grange of 1892 R. V. Clark, of Berrien county, offered a resolution, 
which was adopted, asking the Legislature for an appropriation of $10,000 
for the purpose of organizing and maintaining farmers' institutes in each 
county in the state. It carried. 

"1. Whatever the future may show to be wise, I am convinced that our 
system of county institute societies has been of the greatest value in or- 
ganizing and maintaining institute work. We borrowed this plan from 
Ohio, though our societies are better organized than theirs are. 

"2. Women's sections. Mrs. Mayo began this work the very first year 
under the present law, holding twenty women's sections during the season 
of 1895-6. An average of about fifty-five have been held each winter since 
that time. Our plan of women's sections, with topics of special interest to 
women, as a regular feature of a county institute, was somewhat unique, has 
proved fairly popular, and is, I believe sound and useful. 

"3. Conferences of state speakers and of institute society officers. The 
first gathering of workers occurred at the college in November, 1896, a con- 
ference in which the technical phases of institute work were fully discussed. 
At the round-up at St. Louis in 1897, the officers of county institute so- 



COURSES OF STUDY. 163 

cieties were also called in conference, and this practice has been followed 
ever since." 

A leading and popular feature of the round-up when held at the Agricul- 
tural College is the arrangement for demonstration lectures by many of the 
departments, such as stock-judging, butter making, cooking, sewing, grafting, 
spraying, judging corn. 

Mr. Butterfield continues: "I am inclined to believe that the greater 
value of institutes lies in inspiration rather than in information. At best 
the time is short. One theme can occupy but a few moments. It is a com- 
mon observation that a strong institute stirs and wakens a whole community. 
And I conceive this to be one of the chief functions and best results of our 
institute work. 

"The marked change of attitude toward the College, on the part of the 
masses of the farmers of Michigan, is a phenomenon so recent that I myself 
can testify to it. And I am ready to claim for our institutes a very large 
share in bringing about this change of feeling. The institutes have brought 
the college down to the people, where they could see its work; they have 
enabled college professor and practical farmer to face each other on a common 
platform. 

"And best of all, our institutes have made possible a better grade of agri- 
cultural education all along the line. They have stimulated a wider and 
growing interest in the whole problem of rural education.'" 

During the winter of 1904-05, the institutes in nearly all of the counties 
were unusually good. 

From Supt. L. R. Taft's report of the winter 1905-06, I note the following: 

"It is very evident that greater interest is being taken by the farmers in 
such meetings. Not only has there been a marked increase in the attend- 
ance, but the interest has been greater than in former years, and in perhaps 
a majority of the counties, the reports from the officers have stated, 'It was 
the best institute ever held in the county.' 

"In many of the more southern counties, the attendance at the two-day 
as well as the one-day institutes has frequently been from two to three times 
as great as in 1905-6 under precisely the same conditions. 

"During the week of November 20 and 25, the first normal farmers' 
institute in Michigan was held at the Agricultural College." 

From his report of the winter of 1906-07, I glean the following: 

"The number of the so-called county institutes has been two hundred 
fifty-nine, which is two greater than the previous year, and the number 
would have been fully three hundred had it been possible to grant the numer- 
ous requests for an increased number of regular one-day institutes. 

"Several of those added to the lecture force are graduates of the Agri- 
cultural College who have demonstrated, upon their own farms, the cor- 
rectness of the principles learned while in college and whose training has 
fitted them for taking up institute work. 

"As in previous years, the work of carrying on institutes has been greatly 
assisted by the members of the faculties of the various normal schools and 
the State University, who have freely given their time. 

"During the year, eighteen members of the College faculty have assisted 
at the institutes. The assistance rendered by the members of the College 
faculty and the staff of the Experiment Station has been considerably less 
than in previous years, owing to the increase in the number of students, 
particularly in the short courses, which are given at the time the institutes 
are held. 



164 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"The institute work in the state has been greatly indebted to the grange, 
both as an organization and to its officers and members, who have been of 
great help in carrying on institute work." 

During many of these years, there has been an annual convention of 
farmers' institute workers of most of the states of our country, the sessions 
continuing for two days or more, each "worker" making a report of the work 
in his state. In this way every new and valuable point is "sown broadcast" 
to be adopted in any or all of the other states. 

From Professor Taft's report of the winter of 1907-08, I quote as follows: 

"The regular institutes have been conducted on much the same lines as 
in previous years. It can be truly said that the interest taken by the farmers 
in general in the institutes was never surpassed in Michigan." 

In most cases the attendance depends on the weather, whether favorable 
or unfavorable for travel. 

"Before selecting lecturers or topics for the farmers' institutes, the officers 
of each county institute society are requested to furnish a list of topics that 
they wish discussed, and speakers are secured who can handle the topics 
chosen and who will be likely to give satisfaction. In selecting speakers 
upon topics relating to practical farming or fruit growing, an endeavor is 
made to secure those who have been successful in actual practice. 

"In a large number of counties the cooperation with the county super- 
intendent of schools has been continued as, when proper arrangements 
are made, the results have been very satisfactory. During the forenoon 
and early part of the afternoon, the speaker thus furnished, who is generally 
from one of the normal schools or is the commissioner in an adjoining county, 
visits with the local commissioner the schools in the districts near where the 
institutes are being held, and reaches the hall about the middle of the after- 
noon for a talk upon educational matters and another talk in the evening. 

"Representatives of most of the college classes also took part in the pro- 
gram and it proved an interesting feature of the meeting. For the horti- 
cultural section, brief talks were given by Mr. F. M. Barden, H. M. ConoUy 
and D. B. Pratt. A symposium on the oat was furnished by eleven students 
in agronomy and a live stock demonstration was given by six seniors, while 
Dr. Beal trained twenty-nine young ladies who gave brief, well illustrated 
talks upon the form, structure and economic value of various plants from a 
botanical standpoint." 

The report for this year contains over 300 pages and reports from year to 
vear contain an increasing number of apt illustrations, increasing their value. 

From L. R. Taft's report of 1908-09 I clip the following: 

"The institute season just closed has, in every respect, been one of more 
than usual success. Not only has the number of meetings been considerably 
larger than in any previous year, but the attendance and interest were never 
surpassed. From several counties the report came to me that fully as many 
failed to get inside of the building as were actually accommodated. 

"The largest total attendance, aside from the round-up institute, was 
at the Ionia county institute at Ionia, where the number present at the eight 
sessions was slightly over 4,800,. or 600 for each session, but the Lenawee 
county institute showed an attendance of 3,843 at five sessions, or an average 
of 769 per session. Aside from the Adrian institute, the largest attendance 
per session was at St. Louis where the average for the six sessions was 703 
with a total of 4,217, or nearly 400 more than were present at Adrian. 

"The county papers throughout Michigan are evidently taking increased 
interest in institute work. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 165 

"The general increase in the interest taken by the farmers of the state in 
institute work led to there being far more calls for one-day institutes than it 
was possible to supply, but by carefully arranging the meetings so as to 
economize in the time and travel of the speakers, the number of institutes 
was considerably increased at a slight addition to the expense in previous 
years. 

"In fully two-thirds of the counties a separate section for women was 
asked for upon at least one afternoon. At several points the women's sec- 
tion occupied an entire day or perhaps two afternoons. There were also a 
number of counties in which, although no distinct section was held, one of 
the evening sessions was in charge of the ladies and the program was carried 
out ])y them. Nearly every county in which separate women's sections 
have been held in the past has askecl to have them continued. 

"I desire here to state the distinctive features of the Michigan system in 
comparison with the systems in use in other states: 1. Institute societies 
covering an entire county, with officers and members in every township, and 
with a definite and permanent organization. 2. A union of state control 
and local responsibiUty, centralizing the system, but recognizing and utilizing, 
and even demanding local aid. 8, Local assistance in the program both 
in the set talks and in the discussions, here personal experiences are invited, 
as well as pertinent questions. 4. Women's work, treating, in separate 
sections for women, topics of special interest to them, and along mental and 
spiritual as well as material lines. 5. The 'long institute,' which is a short 
school in some specialty selected in accordance with the needs of the locality. 
6. A 'round-up' meeting, consisting of a representative gathering of farmers 
at the end of the institute season, and the subsequent publishing of the report 
of institute work for the season made up largely of the report of this "round- 
up meeting." For a time, every other round-up was held at the College 
while the others were held elsewhere. From 1909, each round-up has been 
held at the College, 

The superintendent of farmers' institutes, Levi R. Taft, in his last report 
(1910) says: "I am very glad to report increased interest in the farmers' 
institutes in all parts of Michigan. Not onty have there been more calls 
than in previous years, but the meetings have been more evenly distributed, 
and, where the conditions have been in any way favorable for them, the at- 
tendance has been large and the general interest excellent. In a very large 
number of places, the largest halls available were not able to provide even 
standing room." 

The reports of farmers' institutes was published in the reports of the secre- 
tary of the State Board of Agriculture, beginning with 1876 and closing with 
the year 1884. They were not published in the reports for 1885, but were 
printed in 1886. About this time the state law was changed so that reports 
of institutes, if placed in the reports of the secretary of the Board of Agri- 
culture would be nearly two years old, when received by the farmers. Again 
it was changed so that the reports of institutes held in February, 1886, would 
be printed in the 1886 report ready for distribution the next December. 

INSTITUTES FOR MECHANICS. 

By invitation of the Detroit Y. M. C. A., the mechanical department of 
this college, some years ago, conducted a mechanical institute in Detroit; 
others have been held in other places. Professor Weil and Instructors West- 
cott and Leonard gave short talks on heat, steam engines, boilers, mechanical 



166 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

clubs in connection with college extension work. Samples of work from the 
ghops were exhibited. 

INSTITUTES FOR RURAL PROGRESS. 

About 1907, the college began holding an occasional institute with the 
above title, the first one held was at Hanover, Jackson county. 

RAILROAD INSTITUTES. 

As formerly mentioned, for some years past, there has been held a meeting 
of delegates from all the land grant colleges in this country where they dis- 
cuss all sorts of topics that have a bearing on their work. The fact that the 
expenses of the delegates are paid by the colleges insures representatives 
from the remotest portions of our nation. There are no secret sessions; 
every item of valuable information is offered to every delegate, who is in- 
vited to pack it in his valise and try it on in his own state, if he thinks it worth 
while. With this rapid broadcast method of diffusion among so many, it 
is not easy for very many to be the first to bring out a new and valuable idea. 
With this explanation the reader has no reason to expect that Michigan 
Agricultural College shall originate all the devices which she brings out. 
Michigan was not the inventor of the railroad institute, but was early on the 
road. 

"During the month of April, 1906, a series of railroad institutes was held 
with the cooperation of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern and Michigan 
Central railroads, thirty being held upon the former and seventeen upon the 
latter. 

"At each point a stop of from sixty to ninety minutes was made, and 
owing to the short time, it was thought best to discuss but a single subject, 
and, from its importance, the corn crop was selected. 

"These talks were given in the coaches, after which those in attendance 
were taken to the baggage car, where there was an exhibit of some fifty 
varieties of corn adapted to use in Michigan, and various forms of seed 
testers and pans of growing corn illustrating the benefits of carefully curing 
and testing seed corn. Corn growing machinery and a rack for drying seed 
corn were also shown, grasses, grains, charts showing plans for barns, methods 
of grafting and budding, spray pumps and nozzles, samples of San Jose 
scale and other insects, samples of apples sprayed and unsprayed, red clover, 
jars of balanced rations, Babcock milk tester in operation. 

"In 1909 during the eleven days sixty-five stops of sixty to ninety minutes 
each were made. The train consisted of three baggage cars and two or 
three passenger coaches in addition to the locomotive. One car was given up 
entirely to an exhibit of poultry, including representatives of a dozen breeds 
of chickens and ducks, bone grinders, feed boxes, dusting machines and 
samples of rations. Another car was used for demonstration of spraying and 
milk testing. It contained spray pumps, prepared spraying mixtures, 
samples of dangerous insects and diseases, and large photographs showing 
various horticultural operations. Much interest was taken in the demon- 
stration of milk testing and at many points a large number of samples of 
milk were brought to the train for examination. The exhibit also included 
model sanitary stalls, prepared grain rations for animals, and photographs 
of typical animals of the various classes of live stock. The third car contained 
the farm crop exhibits. The walls were covered with samples of the different 
forage crops and with numerous varieties of the small grains. Upon a table 



COURSES OF STUDY. 167 

running the entire length of the car were shown typical ears of many kinds 
of corn. This exhibit showed very conclusively the importance of giving 
attention to the careful selection of seed and of testing it carefully before 
planting. At one end of the car was an exhibit of road-making materials 
and of photographs showing many of the roads built under the state reward 
road act, in charge of Frank W. Rogers, deputy highway commissioner." 

In 1911, at the solicitation of the state miller's association, the College 
induced these railroads to furnish trains for a "soil and wheat special." 

A train consisted of three coaches for the lectures, one of which was in 
charge of the ladies with an expert demonstration of bread and pastry made 
from flour ground from Michigan wheat; four other coaches contained ex- 
hibits. 

The work is contagious. The state board of health were welcomed to 
hitch on two coaches to exhibit and speak of their work. Think of it, nine 
coaches railroading up-to-date information up and down the track! 

The writer has known for a good while that Professor L. R. Taft was a 
very efficient sui3erintendent of farmers' institutes. From his report in 
1912, we glean: 

"In no previous year have so many farmers' institutes been held in Michi- 
gan, or the interest in the work been so great. One feature has been the 
general distribution of the meetings. In round numbers there were, in ad- 
dition to the round-up institute, two three-day institutes, and 82 county 
institutes of which 69 held sessions for two days. Nearly all of the others 
were in the Upper Peninsula. For the first time in many years an institute 
has been held in every county in the Lower Peninsula and there was but one 
county, Keweenaw, in the Upper Peninsula which did not have at least one 
institute. 

"In the main, the attendance was excellent. In 1911-12 an innovation 
was attempted in running a 'better wheat' special during the month of 
August. 

"The train as usual consisted of three passenger coaches in which lectures 
were given and four express cars which were used for the exhibits. 

"The exhibits in one car illustrated the different classes of soils and proper 
and improper methods of handling them, and another was filled with speci- 
mens of some 40 varieties of wheat. The straw, grain and flour of the dif- 
ferent varieties, as well as the bread made from them, were shown. 

"One of the objects of the train was to demonstrate the merits of Michigan- 
grown winter wheat as compared with spring wheat for bread making, as 
well as pastry. The state millers' association cooperated by furnishing 
as a demonstrator. Miss Agnes Hunt of the domestic science department of 
the Agricultural College, and one car was given up to the ladies. Miss Hunt 
was provided with a kitchen outfit and both lectured upon and demonstrated 
the method of preparing the dough when making bread from winter wheat. 
The domestic science exhibits were in charge of Miss Vesta C. Haney, as- 
sistant to the superintendent of farmers' institutes, who demonstrated 
some of the kitchen utensils, such as fireless cookers, coffee percolators, bread 
and cake mixers, lunch boxes, etc., and displayed samples of the work done 
in the domestic science and domestic art departments of the College." 

LECTURES ABOUT THE STATE. 

The College has continued to furnish large numbers of lectures on a great 
variety of subjects, such as commencement addresses to high schools, ad- 
dresses before members of the legislature, at meetings of the state grange 



168 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

and associations of farmers' clubSj before growers of sugar beets, at picnics, 
before organizers of creameries and companies for manufacturing cement. 

Roland Morrill, president of the State horticultural society was employed 
to give three lectures on peach culture in five different places, one lecture 
a day for three weeks. In like manner, three lectures to women at four 
different places were given by Mrs. Mary Mayo, besides two evening lectures 
to mixed audiences. 

The man who took especial charge of each institute made a short written 
report. In a number of cases, students from the public school attended 
with the view of making reports each to his school. Secretaries of institute 
also made reports and were asked to answer for future guidance ten questions. 

EXHIBITS AT FAIRS. 

The College sent to the centennial exhibition at Philadelphia, a large 
map of the College grounds, a manuscript history of the institution, one 
hundred and twenty kinds of grasses, two hundred and fifteen specimens of 
woods. For the collection of potatoes and for the collection of forest woods, 
the College received diplomas. The grasses, potatoes and timber were 
collected and prepared by Dr. Beal. He prepared and sent to the fair at 
New Orleans large exhibits of grasses, grains in the straw. 

The College made a collection of fruits at the meeting of the American 
Pomological Society held in Chicago, and at another meeting held in Boston, 
Massachusetts. 

THE COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION OF 1893, CHICAGO, ILL. 

Dr. R. C. Kedzie for the chemical department prepared: 

Thirty-eight characteristic Michigan soils, mounted in show bottles, with 
a label bearing chemical analysis. 

Forty-six samples of Clawson wheat cut at intervals of 24 hours, from time 
of blossoming to dead ripeness, mounted in show bottles with results of 
chemical analysis. 

Forty-seven kinds of commercial fertilizers offered for sale in Michigan 
in 1893, mounted in show bottles with results of chemical analysis. 

Thirteen specimens of Indian corn raised in Michigan, and five specimens 
of feeding stuffs, all mounted in show bottles with results of chemical analysis. 

The following varieties of corn were exhibited as the leading varieties of 
Michigan: Davenport, Holt, yellow dust, improved yellow, dent and 
Hathaway yellow dent. 

Professor F. B. Mumford for the agricultural department exhibited over 
four hundred samples of wheats, and one hundred seventy-five samples of 
oats. 

An exhibit was prepared by Dr. W. J. Beal, containing thirty specimens 
representing forage plants, two hundred samples in which were represented 
the noxious weeds of Michigan, twenty-seven large bundles of grasses, thir- 
ty-five native fruits and nuts, a quantity of large fungi, two hundred seven 
glass-covered boxes of seeds of grasses and other forage plants, seven lawn- 
grass mixtures, four roots of plants of Indian corn (which attracted the most 
attention of anything in the agricultural exhibit of the state,) thirty-one 
species of grasses full length pressed and sewed on paper, one hundred thirty- 
six true grasses of Michigan, five sets of drawings of fungi, and fifty-four Ijot- 
tles of crude drugs of Michigan. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 169 

Dr. Bcal also exhibited six hundred seventeen herl ariiim specimens ilkis- 
trating special features as follows: 

Color of autumn leaves, remarkable flowers, beautiful fruits, showy bark, 
climbing plants, plants very light in color, small evergreens, bronze ever- 
greens, flowers for winter bouquets, native plants of bog and marsh, aquatics 
good for cultivation, ferns good for cultivation, plants indicating a fertile soil, 
plants indicating a sterile soil, plants for protecting drifting sands, plants for 
carp-ponds, native tree — shrubs, leafless parasitic plants, green-leaved para- 
sites, plants poisonous to the touch, three hundred thirteen kinds of wheat, 
nine volumes of students' notes, drawings, essays, etc.; and about two hun- 
dred photographs of botanists, American and foreign. 

Professor L. R. Taft for the horticultural department made exhibits 
educational in character, consisting largely of samples of the work of the 
students, with a small collection of garden and greenhouse hand tools. The 
students' work showed twenty drawings of the more troublesome fungous 
diseases studied by them, ten illustrating different methods of building 
growing and forcing houses, and ten others showing the different methods 
of propagating plants. 

There was also exhibited a collection of the more valuable insecticides 
and fungicides, carefully labeled so as to show the ingredients of each, while 
in smaller l)ottles grouped around the others, were the materials in the actual 
quantities required. A collection of plaster models of potatoes, molded and 
colored by students was also shown, as well as about one hundred and fifty 
varieties of garden vegetable seeds, most of which were grown and put up 
by the students. Bound volumes of the examination papers of the three 
upper classes were also shown. 

To the cooperative exhibit of agricultural and experiment stations, was 
also contributed a set of drawings illustrating greenhouse construction, 
and a set of photographs showing the equipment of the department and the 
students engaged in various kincls of laboratory and manual labor. 

The exhibit which attracted most attention, however, was the collection 
of wax fruits and vegetables, shown in the horticultural hall. It consisted 
of about eight hundred pieces, and the specimens had so natural an ap- 
pearance, that, although plainly so labeled, many who saw them were with 
difficulty convinced that they were artificial. They were made by Mrs. 
Stanley Potter of South Haven, the fruits being modeled from specimens 
grown upon the sub-station grounds or that were kindly contributed by 
friends along the "lake shore," while most of the vegetables were sent from 
the College. 

The Department of entomology exhibited nearly 2,000 species of insects 
collected by seven students, and samples of kerosene emulsion. Professor E. 
A. A. Grange for the veterinary department exhibited a horse dissected and 
mounted, the skeleton of a cow, a sheep, and a hog, the model of a horse, and 
models of horse's teeth. 

Professor L. P. Breckenridge for the engineering department exhibited 
a nice lot of work of students, models' etc. 

Professor W. S. Holdsworth exhibited a lot of drawings, etc., the work 
of his students. 

EXHIBITS AT STATE FAIRS. 

For forty-seven years a number of departments of the College have made 
exhibits at state and district fairs. These were usually well phiced, well 
labeled with the view of making them educational, employing students in all 



170 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

phases of the work. The exhibits have covered a wide range of topics, 
inckiding cattle, sheep, poultry, butter making, birds, insects, grains, grasses, 
weeds, fruits, flowers, foliage plants, chemical analyses, samples of students' 
work in wood and iron from the shops, drawings, photographs, and logs of 
locust and chestnut grown in the arboretum as a lesson in growing posts 
and poles. 

After the state fair was located on its own grounds in Detroit, the College 
planted a grove of forest trees, plats of grasses, grains, weeds and curiosities. 
A number of the faculty have been sought to act as judges at these fairs, 
where they never lost an opportunity to employ students to assist in such 
work. 

DEMONSTRATIONS AT FAIRS. 

Besides bearing generous labels, the exhibits were usually attended by stu- 
dents who answered questions and made explanations. Demonstrations 
have often been made with lectures in judging domestic animals, the process 
of making butter and testing milk. Addresses have been made to small 
crowds in buildings or tents, but usually it was hard to compete with fakirs 
and auctioneers. 

EXTENSION WORK IN HORTICULTURE. 

Professor H. J. Eustace reports in 1910 that the extension work in horti- 
culture is meeting with splendid success. A special effort has been made 
to assist farmers who have manifested a desire to apply modern methods 
to old apple orchards, and to advise in regard to new plantings in such matters 
as site, varieties, planting, pruning, and cultivation. Considerable effort 
has been made to demonstrate the advantages of spraying potatoes. In 
all of this extension work an effort has been made to interest the people of 
the neighborhood, and this is best done by demonstrations in the orchards 
and fields. 

When requested an expert has been promptly sent to any place in the 
state to look into the matter of supposed poisoning by plants, the sudden 
appearance of some new weed or insect pest. So far as possible, where de- 
sired, an expert has been furnished to aid farmers on the management of a 
wood lot or plotting a new one. 

TEACHING HORTICULTURE IN THE ORCHARD. 

Itinerant demonstration work is a regular outgrowth of the old style in- 
stitute. For example, for three years (1913) 0. K. White, traveled about 
the state carrying a lot of modern tools and demonstrating the proper pruning 
of fruit trees, talking and answering questions while he cut off the limbs; 
the same in spraying with mixtures to destroy insects and fungi; short lec- 
tures explain where to get the ingredients, the proportions, the texture and 
the proper seasons for each operation. In season, there are talks and practice 
in thinning fruits; in modes of picking, assorting, and packing for market; 
a case shows specimens of the worst insects, each labelled. Incidentally 
questions are answered concerning the cultivation of fruit trees and bushes, 
fertilizers, diseases and treatment of potatoes. This work still continues. 

EXTENSION CLASSES IN POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
By Professor N. D. Corbiii. 

"Two classes were organized in 1892: The Lansing class was organized 
within Capital Grange through the activity of Mr. A. D. Bank. The grange 



COURSES OF STUDY. 171 

voted to make the lectures and discussions a part of their regular exercises, 
but a special enrollment was made of those members who would undertake 
to do the collateral reading which included twenty-four names. Mr. Bank 
guaranteed my necessary expenses. 

"At Charlotte the organization was different. Mr. C. E. Chappell acted 
as promoter. The prevalence of lagrippe nearly prevented the class from 
being formed, but on a second call thirty-one names were secured. This 
was not a grange affair, although the prime movers were members of that 
society. A chairman and a treasurer were appointed. A membership fee 
of fifty cents was agreed on and demanded in advance. This fee covered 
the expenses of lecturer and class, Mr. Chappell entertaining the lecturer 
at his home, however. 

"The work was managed similarly in both classes. A text book costing 
$1.25 was required. At first definite parts were assigned as preparatory to 
the approaching lecture and the discussions which followed the lectures were 
upon topics presented in the book and discourse. Later special topics were 
assigned to individuals with references, and each one requested to lead dis- 
cussion upon his assigned subject. Outlines of each lecture were sent to 
each member of the class. At Lansing the whole membership of Capitol 
Grange was welcomed to the lectures and only the class members expected 
to read up especially. At Charlotte, the class meetings were not advertised 
at all outside the class, nor was the course advertised except by individual 
exertion. In Lansing the attendance on the lectures varied from forty to 
seventy and maintained a fair average throughout. 

"At both places the class membership dwindled considerably. Those who 
simply came to the lectures kept coming but many of those who undertook 
to study the book, and to prepare on topics, found it more convenient to 
stay away than to make the preparation. A corporal's guard remained 
faithful to the labor to the end, but these did not care for an examination. 
In each place there were a few who worked well and with creditable results 
clear through. Ten lectures were given at Lansing and six at Charlotte. 

"At Lansing further, the younger members were anxious for interruptions 
to admit of social evenings, and regular grange business sometimes curtailed 
the time for extension labors." 

There seems to be a most encouraging eagerness for self-improvement 
amongst the farmers of the state. 

The lecture must be the principal thing in the course, and should depart 
from the class room standard so far as to amuse as well as instruct. 

Only those courses of study can be profitably undertaken which do not 
require laboratory or library facilities to make them effective. 

The class should be so organized as to have a pecuniary interest in the 
course. A membership fee of a dollar, or a half more, for six lectures is not 
too much. Local expenses should devolve on the class. Advertising is 
important. 

SHORT SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE, 

The department of agricultural education started the plan of holding 
for five days in certain places an agricultural school. Some lectures were 
given, but the school differed from an institute in the fact that lessons were 
given out and studied, and the classes were set to judging corn, studying 
legumes and pastures, testing seed corn, making examination of silos, judging 
horses, cattle, poultry. Four of these schools were held early in 1912 and 
it was expected that the number would be increased to twenty-five the year 
following. 



172 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

COOPERATIVE BREEDING ASSOCIATION. 

Beginning in 1907, W. F. Raven has been carrying out the plans of Dean 
R. S. Shaw, and in 1912 had already induced dairymen in 35 neighborhoods 
to unite in each case in the use of a thoroughbred sire for a period of at least 
six years. The associations are visited, advised, and encouraged from time 
to time to adhere to the original plans. Similar work is beginning with 
sheep, swine, and poultry. Incidentally questions are answered concerning 
the care, feeding and other points of importance. Associations have been 
formed for testing dairy cows. In 1913, this work was increased. 

WORK WITH CEREALS AND CLOVERS. 

A. R. Potts is studying, throughout the state, the races of corn and other 
grains best adapted to certain regions, counseling the growth of alfalfa in 
suitable places. 

CORN GROWING BY BOYS. 

In 1908, Professor Jeffery said: "In two of the counties of the state, 
Muskegon and Mason, boys' corn growing associations have been formed. 
This movement is receiving the help of this division in the way of advice, 
personal instruction, bulletins, etc. Corn growing contests are now in 
progress and later corn shows and prizes are planned for." In 1909 he as- 
sisted in the organization of four county boys' corn growing association, 
covering about 350 boys of each association. In 1910 he reported a large 
and increasing demancl in this line among boys far beyond his ability to 
supply. In 1911 and 1912 this good work was extended and continues. 

A Michigan Experirnent Association was organized January 17, 1911, 
with officers scattered about the state. The secretary-treasurer elected 
was V. M. Shoesmith, Professor of farm crops at the College. They pre- 
pared a constitution and by-laws and judging from the officers chosen some 
profitable results are to be expected. The aljove heading gives an idea of 
the work to be undertaken. 

INSPECTION OF NURSERIES AND ORCHARDS. 

To guard against the spread of some of the worst insects such as the San 
Jose scale, brown-tail moth, tussock moth, and the spread of peach yellows, 
crown gall, and other "plant diseases," a state inspector of nurseries and 
orchards has for some years been appointed to see that the state law is ob- 
served by nurserymen and dealers in nursery stock. K R. Taft assisted by 
several persons has been entrusted with this important work. 

STUDENT INSPECTORS OF DAIRY CATTLE. 

Advanced students or other agents have been employed to visit those 
requesting it to inspect and test cows of the various dairy breeds for ad- 
vanced registry, veterinary and sanitary. 

VETERINARY AND SANITARY. 

Dr. Marshall of the bacteriological department manufactured and dis- 
tributed serum for hog cholera, cultures for producing nodules on alfalfa 
and continued the work on tuberculosis begun by Dr. Grange. Since 1912, 
Dr. Giltner has continued these imj^ortant investigations. 

In 1911, Dr. Ward Giltner was selected to do some extension work in 
connection with the state live-stock sanitary commission by helping to 
discover any outbreaks of diseases and to decide the nature and remedies. 



COURSES OF STUDY. I73 

COLLECTIONS OF INSECTS FOR HIGH SCHOOLS. 

In 1902, from the report of Professor W. B. Barrows I quote as follows: 

"For several years it has seemed to us that the College might do more 
than it has done to stimulate interest in nature study in the common schools 
of the state, and in view of the remarkable increase of interest in such lines 
recently it was determined to attempt something practical in the line of 
insect study. 

"Fifty cases of insects were prepared and sent to as many high schools 
of the state; others are to follow, each accompanied by a pamphlet de- 
scription of the insects in the collection. Each collection contains about 
seventy-five specimens of the more common and interesting insects of the 
state, clearly labeled with common and scientific names. The collection 
illustrated all the important orders of insects. 

"These collections have been enthusiastically received by the schools 
thus far provided and it is evident that they will be useful to the schools 
in many ways, while at the same time they will serve to bring the College 
in closer touch with the schools." Collections of fungi, grasses and seeds 
of weeds for high schools and granges have been made. 

UP-TO-DATE ITEMS FOR THE FARMER. 

From a dingy copy of a postal card such as were sent out by the writer 
April 12, 1875, the following is taken: 

"We have been repeatedly asked by farmers in many different parts of 
our state if there were not some way by which more of them could learn 
what was done at the college in the way of experimenting, teaching, or any 
other items of general interest to intelligent farmers. Six thousand copies 
of each annual report of the state board of agriculture are printed and dis- 
tributed, but they can supply only a very small portion of those who ought 
to be interested in such things. Besides, the reports are not always well 
read by those who get them. They come but once a year. They are some- 
times laid upon the shelf and forgotten. These reports are sent to many 
newspapers of the state, but, like other books, thay are never quoted to 
any extent. As every farmer does not take any one state paper, members of 
the faculty propose the following plan, to reach all alike of our two hundred 
fifty Michigan papers." 

It was proposed to send occasionally, at the same time, to every editor 
who desired it, a printed slip containing any new or important information, 
thought to be of value to farmers; to be given out in season when people 
are most likely to be interested in them. Some sixty-four papers responded, 
one of which furnished "patent insides" for eighty chfferent papers. Al- 
though not systematically followed up by men with time and money at their 
disposal, the plan worked well for a time. 

In more recent years press bulletins from the experiment station serve 
much the same purpose. 

THE EXPERIMENT STATION. 

The College receives from the United States annually $30,000; from the 
state $5,000; in 1911 $8,298.62 license fees, from brands of commercial 
fertilizers. This amount is used in preparing about twelve popular bulletins 
a year besides those of other grades. The mailing list is about 65,000. 

At present the bulletins of the Experiment Station are classified as follows: 



174 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

First, popular bulletins; second, special bulletins of local interest; third, 
technical bulletins, scientific; fourth, short circular, practical topics; fifth, 
short press bulletins, for the use of newspapers. 

No appropriation of state funds has ever been made for the Experiment 
Station till September of the present year when $5,000.00 was set over from 
college funds for that purpose. The bulletins, however, have been printed 
from state funds and the amount has varied from year to year. In 1910-11 
the amount was $4,183.76; in 1911-12 it was $6,998.42. 

The receipts from fertilizer license fees in 1910-11 amounted to $4,520.00 
and in 1911-12 to $5,420.00. These funds go to the experiment station, 
first to defray the cost of making analyses of commercial fertilizers and then 
for the general use of the station in research work. 

ANSWERING QUESTIONS. 

Questions in great variety have kept pouring in, rapidly increasing in 
numbers in recent years, perhaps five thousand or more in one year, some- 
times ten questions to a letter. 

In the main these are received by the professors of botany, chemistry, 
entomology, zoology, horticulture, farm crops, dairying, bacteriology, soil 
physics, forestry, veterinary. The writer occasionally noticed some of these 
in his reports and though he repeatedly mentioned the idea to other members 
of the faculty, no systematic effort has been made to report a summary of 
the numbers or the nature of the reports. He feels certain that enough has 
not been said concerning the extent and importance of this kind of teaching. 
In some cases, comprehensive answers to questions most frequently sent in 
have been printed and kept in duplicate to enclose in a letter of reply. 

Answering questions is a line of work of high rank, each person securing 
direct answers in season to his own questions that are uppermost in his wants. 

IDENTIFYING SPECIMENS. 

Most likely the farmer is annoyed by some insect, fungus or weed which 
he sends in for name and directions for the easiest way to get rid of it. In- 
numberable other subjects come up for inquir}^ and he writes to some one at 
M. A. C. for help. 

TESTING SEEDS. 

The farmer sends samples of clover seeds, grass seeds, beet seeds to be 
looked over by an expert; he asks for identification and vitality; he asks one 
of a thousand questions and gets a prompt and courteous reply. 

FARM HOME READING CIRCLE. 

I quote the report of Professor F. B. Mumford for 1894: 
"The interest manifested in the work of the farm home reading circle 
during the year just closed has been very gratifying. The circle has made 
a steady growth and a large number of farmers and others not directly in- 
terested in agriculture have availed themselves of this opportunity to in- 
crease their knowledge of agricultural subjects. 

"During the year 5,000 short circulars and 2,000 large circulars, con- 
taining detailed information of the plan and scope of the course, have been 



COURSES OP STUDY. 175 

printed. There have been distributed nearly 500 books through this plan, 
on sul)jects pertaining to general agriculture or to special lines of farming. 

"The actual numljer of members registered is 125; but this in no sense 
represents the number, 300-400, who are actual students of the course. 
Many granges, farmers' clubs, etc., have purchased books to be read as a 
part of their program. Library associations have, in some cases, secured 
books through the College, and the number who come directly under the in- 
fluence of the course through these various agencies can be estimated with 
d fficulty. It is of great importance that the plan and scope of the work be 
kep constan'.ly before the people and its practical workings explained in 
detail. Wherever the course has been thoroughly tried, and its opportunities 
appreciated, it has met with success. 

"The value of this course to farmers actually engaged in the business of 
farming cannot be overestimated. Its commendable object is to bring the 
farmers and college into more intimate antl friendly relations, which can but 
result in advantage to both." 

In 1896, Professor Mumford adds: 

"The farm home reading circle has gradually grown, not onlj' in the 
number of readers and members, but also in favor among farmers and gar- 
deners since its organization in December, 1892. 

"There are at present 221 members enrolled. Of this number 38 have 
joined this year. It should be remembered, however, that often several 
memliers of the same family read the same books and yet have never asked 
to be enrolled members of the farm home reading circle. 

"The above number of members includes only those who have ordered 
books. We have a list of thirty who have sent in applications for member- 
ship who, not understanding the plan of the F. H. R. C., or for other reasons 
unknown to us, have never ordered books. 

"During the year we have sent out and distributed at institutes 5,000 ad- 
vertising folders and 1,500 circulars containing full information regarding 
the farm home reading circle. Two hundred and fifty requests for full 
information have been received. 

"Books to the value of $175 have been ordered by members during the 
year. A few changes have been made in the books offered in the several 
courses. 

"Previous to June 30, 1895, anyone, whether a resident of Michigan or 
not, was allowed to join the F. H. R. C. free. Now, we charge non-residents 
a membership fee of $1. 

"Forty examinations were taken by members, and forty certificates issued 
showing the completion of certain books by members making satisfactory 
reports." 

FARM HOME READING COURSES. 

In June, 1909, after Professor French had slightly changed the name he 
began to give considerable attention to the subject. Letters came in show- 
ing a renewed interest in reading courses by farmers and their wives who are 
-keeping up with the times. 

In all, 193 persons have read the first year's course, and fifteen granges, 
six farmer's clubs, and two lodges of gleaners have read the course as a club. 
Certificates are given on the completion of each year's course and a diploma 
on the completion of the four years' course. 

Following is an outline of the courses by years : 



176 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Courses for Men — 

First year. — Types and breeds of farm animals; first principles of soil 
fertility. 

Second year. — Fruit culture; farm accounts. 

Third year. — Feeds and feeding; milk and dairying. 

Fourth year. — Farm poultry; farm management. 

Courses for Women — 

First year. — Home economics; physical nature of the child. 
Second year. — The art of cooking; bacteria in the home. 
Third year. — Sewing and dressmaking; nursing. 

Fourth year. — Domestic science; sanitation and decoration of school 
and home. 

The College has never had the means, at least has never used a tenth part 
of the money necessary, to give the reading courses a full and vigorous exist- 
ence. 

FLOWER SEEDS FOR COMMON SCHOOLS. 

In April, '96, the Horticultural department sent out 500 collections of 
flower seeds for the decoration of the yards of Michigan rural schools. To 
each school were sent directions for preparing the ground, planting the seeds, 
and caring for the plants, and also a few words of instructions for arbor-day 
planting. 

Each school receiving seeds was requested to make a report in the fall, 
only a few of which ever arrived. 

The first report contained the following: 

"The fore part of the summer was very dry, so that the flowers chd not 
come up till about June 10th. Our school closed June 28th, just as the candy 
tufts and a few balsams were in blossom. They were nicely cared for during 
vacation by Miss May and Ethel Smith, two pupils who lived near the school- 
house. Our flowers were the nicest during that time. There were quite a 
number in blossom when school began on September 14th, and we had quite 
a number of bouquets until the frost killed them about September 20th." 

Owing to the difficulties indicated in this report, the project was discon- 
tinued. 

AGRICULTURAL SURVEY. 

From first to last there has been much discussion as to the value of land 
in some of the newer portions of the northern counties of the southern penin- 
sula. To be ready to give an expert opinion in 1909, a good beginning was 
made toward a survey, by selecting and analyzing samples of the soil, by 
notes concerning the trees, shrubs and other vegetation, the location of 
streams, lakes and swamps, the nature of crops grown in various neighbor- 
hoods, and memoranda of abandoned farms. Work begun in the counties of 
Roscommon, Otsego, Cheboygan, Presque Isle, Missaukee, Clare and Mason. 

INSPECTING COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 

For many years now all dealers have been required to procure a license 
from the State Board of Agriculture to enable them to sell fertilizers. To 
insure the grade, samples selected by an agent are analyzed and the results 
published in bulletins. 



COURSES OF STUDY. 177 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. 

To supply an urgent growing demand for the teaching of agriculture in 
the public schools, the College established in 1908 a department of agri- 
cultural education and selected Professor Walter H. French to undertake the 
task. 

I quote from his first report for June 30th, 1909: 

1. "During the winter and spring terms I have taught the classes in 
education, that is, science of education and history of education. 

2. "I visited twenty high schools with a view to introducing courses in 
agriculture. 

3. "I gave addresses in ten farmer's institutes. 

4. '*I have visited and addressed twenty-five granges and farmer's clubs 
in the interest of agricultural education. 

5. "I have lectured in four teachers' institutes. 

6. "I have prepared a course of study in agriculture for high schools 
and a report showing the work done in the one experimental high school 
during the year. These have been published in pamphlet form. 

"Special effort Is made to interest the neighboring farmers, by occasional 
lectures by men from the college; by way of a one-week's course for farmers; 
by demonstrations on some of the farms of live stock, grains, fruits, etc., etc. 

"The High School Course in Agriculture. — The following has been 
prepared with the object in view of changing the existing course of study 
in high schools as little as possible: 

9th Grade. 

English, Arithmetic and Bookkeeping, 

Algebra, Botany |. 

10th Grade. 

English, Horticulture |, 

Geometry, Crops |. 

General History, 

nth Grade. 

Literature and Composition, Zoology, 

Physics, Live stock and Poultry |, 

Commercial, Dairying and Farm Mechanics |. 

Geography, 

12th Grade. 

Literature and Rhetoric, Soils |, 

Chemistry, Farm Management ^. 

American History and civics, 

"I arranged a course of reading for farmers and farmers' wives. This 
work is termed the college extension reading course. 

"I find that a course in agriculture is given in the Normal Schools at Mt. 
Pleasant and Kalamazoo, also a short course is given in each of the forty-one 
county normal training classes." 
23 



178 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICCILTURAL COLLEGE. 



M. A. C. FIGURES IN THE STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 

"The 39th annual meeting of the Michigan State Horticultural Society 
was held at Kalamazoo on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of December, 1909, in con- 
junction with the Kalamazoo Fruit Growers' Society. It was one of the most 
successful meetings that the society has held in recent years, and the good, 
profitable fruit crops of the past year was manifest in the large attendance 
and the good feeling that was everywhere evident. The fruit exhibits were 
very large. 

"The annual banquet for the society, which was held in the Elks' Hall 
on Tuesday evening, was a very pleasant feature of the meeting. Mr. 
Thomas Gunson presided as toastmaster in his inimitable way. 

"Quite a number of junior and senior students attended and entered the 
students' fruit judging contest. The State Horticultural Society offers 
to the horticultural students of the College three j^rizes — $15, $10, $5 re- 
spectively. 

"At the close of the meeting on Wednesday afternoon there was an im- 
promptu gathering of M. A. C. men, and a large number were called upon 
for short talks. One of the pleasant features of the gathering was two 
members of the class of '88, who were presented and gave their class yell. 
Before the meeting broke up it was decided to organize the M. A. C. students, 
who are not interested in fruit growing in Michigan into an experimenters' 
league, the object of which will be to carry on horticultural experiments on 
their fruit farms and announce their results at the meetings of the State 
Horticultural Society. 

"The following is a nearly correct list of M. A. C. alumni and students 
present at the meeting: (In some cases the students are with the class 
indicated and not graduated.) 

M. D. Buskirk, '85. C. A. Reed, '05. 

C. E. Bassett, '86. C. A. Pratt, 06. 

C. S. Bristol, '82. O. K. White, '07. 

C. B. Cook, '88. O. I. Gregg, '07. 

L. A. Bregger, '88. R. L. Pennall, '07. 

Paul Thayer, '00. G. W. Lindsley, '07. 

J. H. Skinner, '01. H. A. Taft, '09. 

H. J. Eustace, '04. R. G. Voorhorst, '10. 

C. A. Seeley, '01. J. A. Miller, '10. 

W. S. Palmer, '02. C. E. Smith, '10. 

R. G. Thomas, '03. G. C. Wagner, '10. 

B. A. Wermuth, '03. C. B. Tubergen, '11. 

S. B. Hartman, '03. L. E. Babcock, '11. 
U. S. Crane, '11. 

EXCURSIONS TO THE COLLEGE. 

Elsewhere this subject is mentioned. In August for each year except 1912 
and 1913 since about 1897, the plan suggested and begun by K. L. Butter- 
field of inducing the railroads centering at Lansing to run excursions to the 
college grounds for a week has been continued. This affords an inexpensive 
outing, a visit to the College, opportunity to meet the professors and inspect, 
at all times, particularly in the growing season, the College with all its fields, 



COURSES OF STUDY. 179 

experiment plots, orchards, gardens, botanic garden, arboretum, forest nur- 
sery, greenhouses, museums, nurseries, trees and shrubbery, barns, horses, 
cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, bees, machinery, different sorts of fence, learns, 
sheds, laboratories for cooking, making garments, laboratories and shops of 
the Engineering division, and many other things not enumerated, — all these 
and more improving from year to year form very instructive exhibitions 
well worth the attention of any inquiring mind who has an eye to self im- 
provement, that attract crowds of visitors, many of whom bring speci- 
mens and ask questions. 

NEW LINES OF STUDY. 

During the year closing June, 1912, the extension work met with marked 
success. A new line of endeavor was opened up in the form of encouraging 
farmers to give systematic care of the woodlot or to begin a new one. In 
the upper peninsula, fourteen alfalfa clubs were organized, ten potato clubs, 
thirteen corn clubs, six breeders associations. Attention is called to the fact 
that improvement in one particular line leads to improvements in other 
lines. Closely related to extension work is the increase in the number of 
classes, which with the professor in charge visits a farm, orchard, or garden 
which most likely is conspicuous for excellence in some method pursued. 
Engineers have made excursions to visit shops; classes in home economics 
have inspected bakeries, hotel kitchens, the condensed milk factory, labora- 
tory of the state board of health, and other places of interest; foresters visit 
and work in the woods, and saw mills; students of agricultural education 
visit classes of various grades, and veterinary students visit high grade 
dairy farms and meat-packing houses to investigate the methods of food 
inspection. 

The topics that have been discussed at these institutes during the last 
thirty-five years are bewildering. 

The range has been wide, the progress wonderful, and best of all, a very 
large number of farmers and teachers in agriculture have been awakened 
to better things. 

Some portions of Chapter 14 would apply to this chapter also, such as the 
influence of the grange. 

FARM MANAGEMENT, FIELD STUDIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS. 

Nothing else has been equal to extension work in awakening the people 
to look with favor on the good work going on at the Agricultural College. 
Fortunately, the United States Department of Agriculture in cooperation 
with the college has this year, 1913, made a beginning to broaden and in- 
tensify this work. The state leader and two district supervisors make the 
college their headquarters. In so far as available the men employed in the 
work have been trained at the Agricultural College, Congress appropriated 
$300,000 to be used the first year and $375,000 for the next year, beginning 
July 1, 1913. This amount is divided among the states of our Union, Michi- 
gan receiving the first year about $19,500. The counties in which this move- 
ment has been started have provided a sum of money about equal to that 
received from the United States Department of Agriculture. It is probable 
that this amount will be much increased and supplemented by the state. 
The work began in eleven counties and will be gradually extended to cover 
the entire state. At present fifteen men are employed, including a state 



180 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

leader, three district supervisors and eleven county agriculturists. In ad- 
dition to this there are ten other counties already organized to follow suit. 
The work will not be confined to demonstrations but will also include farm 
surveys to determine the most profitable types of farming in a particular 
locality, and studies in the cost of production of crops, animals and animal 
products. Attempts will be made to bring the producers nearer to the 
consumers. Farming as a complicated business will receive attention and 
much valuable information will be gathered from the best farmers and passed 
on to all others. The practice will be to approach farmers in the attitude 
of learners or investigators rather than as teachers. 

The state leader is Eben Mumford, Ph. D. The men engaged in the work 
are enthusiastic and filled with hope for the good they may accomplish. 

At present, July, 1913, Dr. Mumford's force consists of sixteen men, while 
the College furnishes four. 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 181 



CHAPTER XL 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 



For the annual reports due June 30, 1892, President Clute made a good 
suggestion to the members of the faculty, viz., that each include an account 
of his methods of teaching. Portions of the reports are here given: 

"In our College the student in English language is set to work with the 
language, its history, its structure, the relation of its parts, its use, its anaVsis 
and synthesis. In English literature he studies masterpieces of style and 
thought, he learns what are the elements that make them great, that enable 
them to appeal to noble minds in every age and in every walk of life. 

"If the laboratory method is thus used in mathematics and English, much 
more is this the case in all the natural sciences. Here every step is a study 
of things. In botany the plants, in entomology the insect, in zoology the 
animal, in geology the fossil or the rock, in chemistry the simple or the com- 
pound, is always before the eye, and can be manipulated as desired. The 
microscope, the scalpel, the hammer, the test-tube, or the reagent, is always 
at hand to aid in learning what the thing has to reveal. 

"By our system of teaching and of labor, the farm, the stables, feeding 
pens, silo, cellars, gardens, orchards and forcing-houses, all become parts 
of a great agricultural laboratory in which the student learns to do by doing. 

"Labor on farm, in gardens, woodshop, is thus an essential part of our 
educational system. It was introduced when the College first opened under 
President Joseph R. Williams in 1857, was adhered to in all the pioneer vicis- 
situdes of a new departure in education, has grown into the very fibre of our 
work. We are glad to believe that we have contributed something of value to 
the successful solution of manual training in the higher education." 

METHOD OF TEACHING CHEMISTRY. 

R. C. Kedzie, in his report for 1892, speaks as follows: 

"The scope of the instruction has special relation to agriculture in its 
broad sense — the bearing of chemistry on vegetable and animal life. While 
the principles of science are clearly set forth, the influence of chemistry in 
every process of farm and garden, in barn and stockyard, is brought before the 
student's mind. He is reminded that chemistry is not confined to laboratory 
and smelting works, but lays its plastic fingers on every process of growth 
and change. There is not a leaf rotting by the wayside but is touched by the 
wand of chemistry. 

"To enable the student to know in its fullest sense the science which he 
is pursuing, he spends some hours each week in laboratory practice, perform- 
ing the experiments which develop the basic facts of the science; to couvstruct 
his own apparatus, to repeat and vary these experiments for himself and bring 
him in touch with nature in a way not possible for the onlooker. The aim is 
to unfold the ideas of the old Greeks, in whose idiom 'to have seen' means 'to 
know;' for to do is the l)est way to see. 

"This laboratory practice gives the stulient skill and readiness in manipu- 



182 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

lation which are of value to him in all his subsequent course. It also cul- 
tivates a taste for original research. The opportunity for this laboratory 
practice is eagerly embraced by all the students. 

"The student is required to keep in a note book a careful account of the 
tests by which he detected the composition of all materials determined, which 
renders him familiar with chemical nomenclature and also trains him to dis- 
tinguish between characteristic and non-characteristic tests. It is applied 
logic. 

"As taught in this College agricultural chemistry may be defined as the 
chemistry of plant life." 

METHOD OF TEACHING ZOOLOG-Y. 

Professor A. J. Cook reports in 1892: 

"The aim and desire in this department is to make the fullest use of the 
laboratory methods. We believe that the discipline and information re- 
ceived by handling and closely examining a specimen is far more valuable 
than mere study of books. Owing to the wide range of studies in the de- 
partment, the small amount of teaching force, and the limited amount of 
time, of necessity, available for laboratory work, we are unable to do full 
justice to all of the subjects. 

"Prior to the work of zoology the student is given an excellent course in 
free hand drawing. 

"Again, the students in zoology have had thirty weeks of most admirable 
instruction in botany. This has given them the habit of observation, skill 
in the use of the microscope, and such habits of laboratory methods that they 
are better able to make progress in the briefer zoological courses than they 
would otherwise be. 

"The laboratory work is devoted to careful dissection of a cat. The 
viscera are dissected out, described and illustrated by drawings. The respir- 
atory, circulatory, and nervous systems are examined in the same way and 
the muscles of a single part are thoroughly studied. The work is all described 
carefully in writing and, as far as practicable, illustrated by carefully pre- 
pared drawings. After this, those who elect to do so are permitted to go 
carefully over an herbivore, usually a lamb, that comparisons may be made 
with the carnivore already examined. 

"Agriculture is a very important factor in successful pomology, horti- 
culture, indeed in all agriculture. 

"We know from actual demonstration that insects, principally bees, are 
absolutely essential to a full production of fruit, vegetables and seeds, in 
very many of our most valued farm and orchard products. Reciprocity 
seems to be a law of nature, which is no better illustrated anywhere than 
between bees and plants. The plants feed the bees, and even signal them 
by their bright-hued bloom, while the bees return the favor by fertilizing 
(pollinizing) and cross-fertilizing the flowers, thus increasing the fruitage. 
Farmers now know and recognize the value of bees in the Alsike and white 
clover fields; they will soon appreciate their good offices in the orchard and 
garden no less heartily. 

"In thirty-five years the entire bee-keeping apparatus — commencing with 
hives — has been revolutionized; the breeding of bees, despite the inherent 
difficulties, is rapidly approaching perfection; comb foundation, an artificial 
product from pure beeswax, is used with marked success and great profit. 
The extractor gives a liquid product so excellent that it is preferred by many 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 183 

to the incomparable comb honey, and so has banished the old strained pro- 
duct from every respectable apiary. The elegant one pound section has 
driven the box and large frame into oblivion. While the solar wax extractor, 
the bee tent, the queen excluder, and the bee escape, though so recently in- 
vented, are in common use, and prove what intelligence may do for any 
pursuit. The winter problem is apparently solved, 'foul brood' is rapidly 
losing its terrors, and 'sugar honey' is able to bridge the disaster of poor 
seasons, as now seems likely, the last foe will be vanquished. 

'' It took more than a dozen years, to convince the farmers of the wondrous 
values of arsenites in conquering the worst apple enemy, the codling moth." 

METHOD OF TEACHING BOTANY, 

Dr. W. J. Beal, in his report for 1892: 

"Nearly every report to the President, for the past twenty-one years, has 
contained something on this subject. The New Botany, a lecture published 
in the third edition by The Rural Publishing Company, treats of my methods. 

"The chief aim of the first course of twelve weeks' daily work is: 

"1. To induce the students to become accurate and self-rehant observers. 

"2. To acquire a knowledge of the gross anatomy of plants. 

"3. To become familiar with the leading technical terms used in describ- 
ing flowering plants. 

"4. To gain an insight of plant morphology. 

"5. To make some careful drawings. 

"6. To practice describing plants. 

"7. To learn by observation a few of the ways in which the flowers of 
plants are fertilized, each pupil presenting one essay during the term. 

"In this course pupils are at once, and for some weeks, mainly engaged in 
the careful examination of plants without the study of books. These studies 
are to some extent made before coming to the class, though largely made in 
the laboratory under the supervision of the teacher. Nearly all the parts 
are examined before any names are given for them. 

"The chief aim of the second course, of six weeks of daily study, is: 

"1. To induce the pupils to learn how to famiUarize themselves with 
some species of the most important orders, especially the orders containing 
weeds and useful plants. The orders most studied are compositae, cruciferae, 
labiatae, caryophyllaceae, polygonaceae, lobeliaceae, amarantaceae, chenopodi- 
aceae, and gramineae. Careful notes and drawings are made containing the 
results of investigations, in preference to making abstracts of chapters of 
books. 

"2. To acquire some knowledge of the classification of flowering plants, 
their names and descriptions, and how to make and use an herbarium. 

"The object of the third course, of twelve lessons during the summer term, 
is to collect specimens (often in company with an instructor) and learn to 
recognize some of our leading trees and shrubs. 

"The object of the fourth course, of daily work during the spring term, is: 

"1. To learn to use a compound microscope, finding the magnifying 
power, using a camera, etc. 

"2. To note the effects of some of the prominent reagents. 

"3. To acquire some skill in making sections. 

"4. Much attention is given to making neat and accurate drawings and 
notes. 



184 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"No real progress can be made in botany till the student learns to observe. 
Neatness begets accuracy. A sloven has no business to use a microscope. 

" 'It is a mistake to suppose that he is the best teacher who gives most 
information in the shortest time with the smallest expenditure of labor on the 
part of his hearers.' — Farlow. 

" 'The teacher of biology will keep the student on the right track, but 
let him find the truth for himself.' — Farlow. 

" 'The pupil must earn his facts. These should be placed within his reach, 
but not within his hands.' — Goodale. 

" 'The teacher makes the taught do the work, and occupies himself in show- 
ing them how to do it; and taking care that they do it.' — Rev. E. Thring, of 
England. 

" 'Mere book knowledge of natural history is a poor basis of culture.' — 
Agassi z. 

" 'It is a sham and a delusion.' — Huxley. 

"Make frequent and thorough comparisons of two plants or similar parts 
of plants. 

" 'In biology, laboratory work should precede any detailed course of 
lectures. ' — Farlow. 

"Details and facts before principals and conclusions. 

"To learn to observe well, concentrate the attention for some time on a 
very small portion of the field, then in a similar manner study other portions. 

" 'Patting one on the back and saying, "Don't you see this?" and "Don't 
you see that?" does not tend to produce a very robust mental development.' 
— Farlow. 

" 'Under no circumstances should an instructor let a student who is a be- 
ginner discover what his own views are about any point to be studied. ' — 
Farlow. 

" 'Don't ask your neighbor, but work it out for yourself.' — Toumey. 

"An eye trained to see is valuable in any kind of business. 

"As an instrument of research the microscope now occupies a position 
which is second to none. 

" 'To no science, historically speaking, is the agriculture of this country 
so deeply indebted as to botany.' — Morton's Cyclopedia. 

" 'Good agriculture and horticulture are founded upon the laws of vege- 
table physiology.' — Dr. Lindley. 

" 'Agriculture, horticulture and forestry are applied botany. Botany is 
the only sure basis of agriculture.' — President Abbot. 

"In our whole course in botany, the student trains for power more than for 
knowledge. 

" 'We may forget the facts, but the habit of observation and self-reliance 
acquired will remain.' — A Student. 

"In its effect on the mind, Dr. Gray says: 'It is the best system of prac- 
tical logic, and the study exercises and sharpens at once both the powers of 
reasoning and observation, more, probably, than any other pursuit.' 

"To supplement the laboratory work by placing at any season of the year 
in the hands of each student, there are collected and preserved in about three 
hundred fruit jars, with formalin, large numbers of specimens; about two 
hundred lots of dry fruits and seeds; a campus containing six hundred species 
of woody plants; a botanic garden containing 200 species; from 1880-1890, a 
botanical museum; an arl)oretum containing about 150 species, not to mention 
the species and varieties in the fields, orchards and gardens. In a word, 
each student gets much of his training in botany at M. A. C. by individual 



METHODS OF TEACHING, 185 

effort in observing, taking notes, making drawings of objects, in contrast 
with hearing about plants and by seeing pictures and reading the text. It is 
the German method learned from Louis Agassiz." 

METHODS OF TEACHING VETERINARY MEDICINE. 

Professor E. A. A. Grange, report for 1892: 

"The Methods of teaching veterinary are, in the special department in- 
tended for that purpose, varied according to circumstances. In some in- 
stances the student is supplied with the raw material, and expected to pre- 
pare and describe it in a satisfactory manner; in others the professor in charge 
lectures upon certain subjects that cannot be well elaborated in a more 
practical manner, while the performance of operations, before the class, is 
encouraged and resorted to upon all possible occasions. To bring this part 
of the course before the reader in closer detail, a briefer outline of the various 
steps may be admissible, to wit : 

"In the autumn term of the senior year we take up the subject of veter- 
inary comparative anatomy, using the horse as the standard, and making 
comparisons of the other animals from it. Beginning our course with de- 
tailed description of the skeleton, taking each bone separately, and describing 
it, not forgetting to mention the diseases it is likely to be affected with, as 
well as other points of interest. 

"To aid in this part of the work, our museum is provided with the skeletons 
of the horse, cow, sheep and hog, and for studying the teeth we have 67 
models, and a number of original specimens, showing the changes which occur 
from birth to advanced years. Among others we have the lower jaw and 
teeth of a horse, said, upon good authority, to have been 54 years and 3 
nionths old when he died. We then take up the joints, and after having 
given them as much consideration as our time will admit, we pass on to the 
muscles which clothe the skeleton and perform the various movements of 
the body. We spend several weeks over these organs, there being over 300 
of them, all of which are more or less important, seeing that they are con- 
cerned in the many accidents and diseases to which horseflesh is heir. We are 
well equipped for doing this work, having the Auzouc model of the horse, 
which separates into 97 pieces and shows over 3,000 points for anatomical 
demonstration, the muscles among other things. After we have disposed 
of the muscles, in the class-room, we then study them from the original 
aninial in the dissecting room, finishing with a drawing of the part, after it 
is dissected by the student. In studying the muscles we pay particular 
attention to their names, situations, relations to contiguous objects, es- 
pecially blood-vessels and nerves their actions and uses, and attachments. 

"Briefly, much stress is placed upon laboratory work with specimens and 
dissections and models." 

METHOD OF TEACHING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. 

In his report for 1892, Prof. L. P. Breckenridge says : 

" The men have worked well in the shops. They have taken much interest 
in their work, and they have done work of value to our own and other de- 
partments. 

"Previous to 1880, labor in connection with study was an experiment in 
this country. Today it is an estal)lished fact. In 1889. twenty-five states 
had introduced, or taken steps to introduce, this feature into the school 



186 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

system. As city after city took up the question, special committees were 
appointed to investigate the subject, and report as to its advisabihty. In all 
cases the reports have been seemingly unanimous and enthusiastically in 
favor of this measure. 

"The average American has so much to do that he will not take time to 
read what has been done, and often will not take the trouble to think out for 
himself problems that are foreign to his immediate welfare. The result is 
that it takes many good devices a long time to come into general use. Thus 
has it been with manual training. 

"Let it be remembered right here that the labor which is done in schools 
having introduced a system, is not done in order that the student may become 
a carpenter, a joiner, a cabinet-maker or a pattern-maker, because he has 
worked in wood; nor a machinist, a steam fitter, a plumber, a tinsmith, a 
blacksmith, or a foundryman, because he has worked in iron. 

"He will be more successful at any of these trades, but it is also demon- 
strated that he will be a more successful lawyer or minister, a physician or 
merchant, in fact, a man with a more cultivated and enlightened mind, which 
is the oljject of education. One more thought must be presented before 
examining carefully into the details of the system. All new work must 
needs be directed and explained. This can be done in many ways. It could 
be explained by the person in charge of the work, or a written explanation 
might be handed the student; both ways are full of faults. There is, however, 
one universal language intelligible alike to all. This language is drawing, 
and this is always used in connection with work to be performed in manual 
training. In order that this universal language may be understood, it is 
always necessary that drawing precede work which is to be explained by this 
means. Drawing is easily learned and is understood alike by German, 
Frenchman or American. 

"How often it has been said, 'I wonder what Mr. S will do, now 

that he has graduated from college.' What will he do? He is generally too 
proud to work with his hands, even if he could. He has been taught rather 
that there is an easier way to earn a living than by hand labor, that brains 
command higher wages than physical exertion, and so he goes out into the 
world, his head filled with undigested facts and formal knowledge. He can 
conjugate and decline, and is willing to show the world many of its mistakes 
and faults. What does he do? Lives on his father's money, or else begins at 
the 'bottom of the ladder' and, working with his hands, he may be able to 
accomplish wearily and slowly some good in the world. 

"Let us go into some manual training school and watch the youth at work. 
This is the wood-shop. There are thirty boys here at work. Each boy has 
his kit of tools. The case containing the tools is a trifle above the work 
Ijench, and at each end is a vise, not the old-fashioned pin-in-the-bottom, 
wood-screw affair, requiring much time to change from one opening to another, 
but the modern, quick-opening, parallel-jawed vise, invented, I understood, 
by some former student of the Worcester manual training school. The tools 
are used only by one student so that he may reap the benefit of whatever 
skill he may acquire in taking care of them. Each case is numbered, and 
each tool in the case is stamped with the same number. 

"Hanging before each boy is a blue print of the piece he is to make; there 
are at least one hundred different exercises from which to choose work. 
How carefully does each boy examine the drawing before him! How ac- 
curately does he measure and mark the piece he is producing! How many 
times he tries his square on this corner and that to be sure his piece is not 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 187 

'out of truth!' Here is a finished joint. How perfectly the pieces fit to- 
gether! It docs not seem possil^le that these ])oys should produce such 
work. 

"Notice the many positions the boy gets into with the difYerent tools, 
the plane, the saw, the bit, the chisel and mallet, all calling different muscles 
into play. Notice how quickly he finds the center of that circle; and see 
that one, as he uses his radius to lay out a hexagon. Do you think he will 
ever forget the geometry he learned this morning, now he finds he can use it 
this afternoon? 

"In the next room we find more boys at work, mostly on lathes, turning 
out all shapes, both for use and ornament. 

"Let us now go down stairs. This is the foundry, and here we find more 
boys at work, forming the moulds into which the iron will soon be turned to 
form castings. 

"Next comes the blacksmith shop or forge-room — smoke, noise and sparks. 
Look at some of the work that has been done. There are old files drawn out 
to a very small cross section and perhaps twelve feet long. 

"Here are welds of all kinds, hooks, chains, rings, tools, chisels and all 
kinds of cutters. Each piece contains an idea and each piece is made from 
a drawing. 

"In the machine shop we find many men at work at the bench and vise, 
filing, chipping, fitting. Others are at work at the lathe, plane, drill, milling 
machine or some other of the numerous machines. These men work ten 
hours a week in the shops. This amount of exercise is beneficial. It is a 
relief from the labor required by other parts of the brain in studying the 
principles of mechanics and in acquiring perhaps a knowledge of some foreign 
language. 

"Do you think it is possible for a person to produce an object from some 
material, studying his drawings for directions, without training his powers 
of imagination? 

"Accurate work leads to accurate thought. Each piece that is made is 
carefully inspected by the foreman of the department before it is accepted as 
complete. 

"It is not possible for men to work so carefully, to get every object made 
so that it will be a true fit, and not reap some moral benefit from the habit 
of getting things right. The struggle for truth and accuracy in materials 
cannot fail to lead to a similiar desire for honesty and accuracy in morals. 

"How many times the student must exercise his judgment in turning a 
piece of wood in his lathe, and how soon he is enabled to turn out the desired 
piece with but a few measurements! He must strike the iron while it is hot, 
he must decide quickly where to strike, and how hard, or his work is im- 
possible. 

"Describe, if you can, some new color to a friend. Explain how quinine 
tastes to some one who has never tasted it. Tell me how sounds the zither, 
how smells the arbutus. Is it not evident that each sense has its function 
to perform? 

"The eye sees, but how often does it fail to interpret rightly what it sees, 
how often it fails to see at all. Let the amateur botanist tramp through 
the woods and fields and let the expert follow in his tracks three minutes 
behind him. Look at the specimens in their two cases and answer me, is 
not the eye of the first in training so that it may see? 

"The knowledge that comes to us through the hand is somehow the kind 
that stays. What we have done, we know can be done. 



188 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"It gives confidence to the mind to devise when we see our plans executed 
with success. 

"In the choice of materials to be worked upon, the advantages of wood are 
that it can easily be shaped into a large number of forms. 

"Neatness can accompany the work with wood. It does not require in- 
tense muscular action. In a given time a larger number of articles may be 
made. 

"It is not expensive. 

"The proper shape and angles for action are most advantageously studied. 

"The advantages of iron work are: 

This is an age of iron and its physical properties should be fully understood. 

The ingenuity is often taxed to its fullest extent to accomplish the object 
in view. 

The limits which practice imposes upon theory are often strikingly il- 
lustrated. 

Difficulties of construction demand of the intelligent laborer cheaper 
methods. 

It teaches progress, attention, accuracy; develops ability for design and 
invention. 

"Before going any farther into the discussion, let me present to you the 
ideas of many whose names have long been associated with the cause of 
education, and whose words will have weight because their works uphold 
them. 

"This new system of education was presented to the world by that good 
Moravian Bishop Comenius more than two hundred years ago. 

"Here are some of his words: 

" (1) 'Let everything be communicated through the senses and turned to 
present use.' 

" (2) 'Let nothing be prescribed as a memory task that has not previously 
been thoroughly understood.' 

" (3) 'Leave nothing until it has been impressed by means of the ear, the 
eye, the tongue, the hand.' 

" (4) 'Let nothing be learned by authority, ])ut b\^ demonstration sensible 
or rational.' 

" (5) 'Above all never teach words without things.' 

" (6) 'The senses are the most faithful standards of the memory.' 

"(7) 'Mechanics and artists do not teach their apprentices by disquisi- 
tions, but by giving them something to do.' 

" (8) 'The study of language should run parallel with the study of things, 
especially in youth, for we desire to form men, not parrots.' 

" (9) 'As human nature rejoices in doing, everything should be learned by 
practice, and the utility and bearing of what is learned should be made 
manifest.' 

" (10) 'We do not speak to our pupils, but the things themselves, and every- 
thing should be taught by the things themselves, or, when these fail, by 
accurate representations of them.' 

"Thus, in the seventeenth century, we were told how to teach, and now 
are we but just ready to undertake it, at the opening of the twentieth. 

"Rousseau wrote: 'Reflect that the student will learn more by one hour 
of manual labor than he will retain from a whole day's verbal instruction. 
The things themselves are the best explanations.' 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 189 

"Pestalozzi wrote: 

'Man must seek his chief instruction in his chief work, and not allow the 
empty teaching of the head to precede the labor of the hand.' 

"Froebel wrote: 

'For what man begins to represent or to do he begins to understand.' 

"Rabelaias wrote: 

'Teach through the senses; inculcate independence of thought; train for 
practical life, develop mind and body equally.' 

"Bacon wrote: 

'Education is the cultivation of just and legimate familiarity between 
the mind and things.' 

"Huxley wrote: 

'Zoology cannot be learned with any degree of efficiency unless the student 
practices dissection.' 

"Herbert Spencer wrote: 

'Science is organized knowledge, and before knowledge can be organized 
some of it must first be possessed. Every study therefore should have a 
purely experimental introduction, and only after an ample fund of observa- 
tion has been accumulated should reasoning begin.' 

"Dr. Maudsley wrote: 

'To know the truth is necessary to do the truth.' 

"Ruskin wrote: 

'Let the youth once learn to take a straight shaving off a plank, or draw 
a fine curve without faltering, or lay a brick level in its mortar, he has learned 
a multitude of other matters which no lips of man could ever teach him.' 

"In an article entitled 'The Co-education of Mind and Hand,' by Mr. 
C'has. H. Ham, there are many well presented points relating to this subject. 
'Like thought and action the mind and hand complement each other. The 
mind speculates, the hand tests the speculations by experiment, the hand 
thus explodes the errors of the mind. The hand, therefore, not only searches 
after truth, but finds it. 

" 'Farmers and mechanics stand the scrutiny better than merchants. 
Civil engineers and architects are more competent in their professions than 
lawyers, judges, and legislators. Why? Because the former are trained in 
things, the education of the latter is confined to abstractions.' 

"Manual Training was introduced into this country by Dr. Runkle, the 
first president of the Institute of Technology in Boston. He preferred to 
call the 'shops' the 'laboratories,' the same as the chemical and physical 
laboratories, but whatever name may be applied to them their object is the 
same — to furnish the hands with labor which shall enlighten the mind. 

"From all sources comes the testimony of those having 'shop work' — that 
it builds up the body and the mind of those employed. 

"It satisfies the natural activity of the youth and directs it toward a useful 
end. 

"As a state, Michigan has much of which to boast. Her g eatest boast 
should be that while busily engaged in building up her great natural re- 
sources she has not forgotten to educate her youth. 

"In the agricultural college it is extremely probable that a large amount 

of work now done as manual training will eventually drop down to the schools 

below. All great changes in educational lines seem to begin at the universities 

and higher institutions of learning, and so has it been with this change. 

"What effects this new system will have on existing methods of teaching 



190 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

will be interesting to watch. Sure it is that changes will take place and 
when the natural method of mind cultivation shall reach its full development 
we may look back and wonder that so much time should have been devoted to 
learning so little. Manual Training is mental training; if it were not, it 
could have no place in any scheme for public education." 

METHOD OF TEACHING DRAWING. 

Professor W. S. Holdsworth, in his report for 1892, has this to say: 
"The first day the student makes drawings, entirely as he may see best, 
of cubes, oblongs and cylinders. This is an endeavor to find out what the 
student knows about drawing and what are his ideas about representing such 
simple objects. These objects are named, dated and filed away. The next 
lesson is devoted to the study of perspective, endeavoring to deduce some 
simple rules. In all this work we use the blackboard freely. We approach 
the study of perspective in this way: The instructor places a skeleton model 
of a cube before the class, calls attention to the relation of certain edges 
to each other and to level surfaces. He then places before the cube a wire 
screen to occupy the place of the perspective plane and upon this traces a 
drawing of the cube. This is then placed before the blackboard, when the 
outline drawing stands out in relief. Comparisons are made. A number of 
studies of this kind are made from rectangular objects and certain simple 
rules of perspective are derived. Then the instructor makes drawings of 
simple rectangular objects, upon the blackboard, explaining methods of 
estimating angles, widths of surfaces and the use of the 'pencil in hand measur- 
ing:' always drawing from the object. Numerous exercises follow, the 
student working in outline from the object, sometimes resorting to making 
studies on the screens. As few technical terms are used as possible and no 
rules of technical perspective are given at all. Facts are observed and means 
of representing them sought and explained. Most of the principles of drawing 
are studied in this way. 

"Great stress is placed on accuracy of observation and representation 
of objects, and care is bestowed upon the neat and tidy appearance of draw- 
ings." 

SHOP METHOD AT M. A. C. 

Professor C. H. Weil. M. A. C. Record, April, 1896. 

"In the M. A. C. shops students make patterns of machine pieces from their 
own designs, make castings from these patterns, and finally bring the pieces 
to their finished or designed state in the machine shop; also prepare tools 
in the blacksmith shop to be used in machining the pieces. 

"It will be perceived that the student is required to obtain a clear idea 
of the sequence of shop work, and operations involved in making complete 
constructions, also to obtain some degree of skill as a workman along several 
lines. While we do not aim to give complete training in the trades, still it 
is generally surprising to note the proficiency acquired by young men, as 
mechanics, under the system followed, especially in the case of those who are 
naturally inclined towards mechanical work. Inspection of the M. A. C. 
alumni catalog will show that many of the graduates of the mechanical course 
are successfully following lines of work calling for a knowledge of the various 
trades mentioned in this article, and the success of these graduates along 
such lines is some measure of the efficiency of the M. A. C. course in shop 
practice." 



METHODS OF TEACHING. 191 

In his report for 1896, Professor C. L. Weil, ^ays: 

"We continue to place much emphasis upon exercise work in the shops, 
that is, work designed to illustrate specific points in the use of tools, and to 
give a large numl^er of such exercises so that the student may gain a broad 
view of shop practice. We deem it advisable to attempt the manufacture 
of complete machines to a very limited extent only. 

"During the past year strong efforts have been made along all lines to 
obtain increased efficiency, a special effort having been made to have the 
drawing-room work approach that of 'best practice,' and to strengthen the 
work along experimental lines." 

The shops furnish rooms for practical and educational work for the students, 
three hours a day, without compensation, under the immediate supervision 
of practical and skilled workmen. The works are modeled after those at 
Worcester, Massachusetts. The labor is performed upon machines of 
utility, and not upon models, while the products of the shops were disposed 
of for the benefit of the mechanical school. 

Professor L. H. Bailey, in 1888, at once showed his clear comprehension 
of teaching horticulture and landscape gardening by the admirable synopsis 
given in his report: 

"I transcribe from the workbook, the following routine of work, selected 
at random, for a student during July: 'Pruning apple trees; weeding onions, 
mowing with a lawn mower, potting strawberries; shovelling earth, cleaning 
apple trees; pruning young wood from vineyard; picking peas; cleaning drive; 
cleaning and trimming drive; ditto; ditto; scraping apple trees; raking on 
drive; ditto; ditto; pruning grapevines; raking and trimming drives; chtto.' 
Two-thirds of this was fairly illustrative. Another instance for the month of 
June: 'Killing currant worms; poisoning cabbage worms; ditto; ditto; re- 
pairing bridge on lawn; planting apricots; applying commercial fertilizer to 
cabbages; working on cold-frames; pruning apple trees; planting various 
vegetable seeds; poisoning potato bugs; ditto; ditto; removing cold-frames; 
poisoning potato bugs; ditto; transplanting celery; picking gooseberries; 
picking peas.' Student had expressed a desire to kill injurious insects." 

The trouble is that time was too short to make it possible to instruct students 
according to the plans of an ambitious professor. This was true in every 
department, requiring a constant selection and readjustment of subjects. 

Besides lecturing at farmers' institutes and attending fairs, the professors 
take pains to make use of students in the capacity of judges of live stock, 
fruits, flowers and vegetables. Here is an example: Hon. C. W. Garfield, 
class of '70, was for about ten years the efficient secretary of the State Horti- 
cultural Society. At a meeting of the society, held in Lansing, Professors 
Cook, Bailey, and Beal each introduced some of his students who had pre- 
pared something for the program. Mr. Garfield, in his report later, writes: 
"One of the most pleasant hours of the convention was occupied by members 
of Professor Beal's class in botany. Seventeen young ladies and gentlemen, 
fresh from original work in the botanical laboratory, gave three-minute 
talks to the assembled horticulturists upon topics which they had been 
studying by the aid of the microscope. They are taught to be independent 
of what has been printed, and are placed at once in the field of original in- 
vestigation. The glimpse they gave us of their methods spoke well for the 
work Professor Beal is doing. 

"The drawings made by the students and employed in their explanations 
were admirably executed, and on the whole the entire exercise was as inter- 
esting as anything ever presented to the society." 



192 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

After returning home from the horticultural meeting, Secretary Garfield 
wrote: "As I recall the exercises of your students before our society, I am 
filled with the idea that it would be well to have the whole thing go into our 
report, illustrations and all, if the matter can be prepared under your super- 
vision. There is nothing like it in any report published. My thought is not 
to enlighten people so very much by the facts which these young people 
presented, but to popularize your method of work." 

The cuts were engraved and with the text appeared in the next report of 
the Society in 1886. 



MANUAL LABOR BY STUDENTS. 



193 



CHAPTER XII. 

MANUAL LABOR BY STUDENTS IN AN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Compulsory manual labor for wages has been tried more or less by many 
schools and colleges of this country, but by none, perhaps, has it had a longer 
and more thorough trial than by the Michigan Agricultural College. A 
provision requiring it was made February 12, 1855, in the act of the legis- 
lature establishing an agricultural school, and since the first class entered in 
1857, for nearly forty years, the practice was steachly maintained of requiring 




Judging stock. — The Shaw boys beginning young. 

twelve to fifteen hours per week manual labor of the students. Wages 
were paid with the exception that since the estabhshment of acourse in me- 
chanical engineering, in 1885, although students of that course were all 
required to labor in the shops for eight hours a week, they received no pay for 
the work, as it is all educational in its nature. 

Perhaps this topic is treated too much at length, especially since it con- 
cerns a dead issue, but manual labor was, at the start, made one of the funda- 
25 



194 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

mental features of the College and was for a long time a prominent problem. 

With a total attendance of only 82 students during the year 1868, probably 
running down to 50 or 60 at certain times, the President's report contains 
this regarding student labor: 

"The students are required to labor on the farm, garden, or at mechanical 
work, a certain i)ortion of each day. The system has ])roved itself to be a 
good one, and gives better and better satisfaction to both officers and students, 
from year to year. With tlu; instruction which accompanies the labor, 
the studcMit o])tains much valuable information of a practical character, 
which could be obtained in no other way." 

I have no doubt of the truth of this statement, but the problem of student 
labor changes very rapidly and becomes more difficult as the number of 
students increases; and this will usually appall the treasury, requiring that 
an expert foreman be employed to (^ach twenty students. 

Dr. Kedzie once said students were never happier than when detailed for 
a day's work under Dr. Miles in laying out some difficult ditch or surveying 
some field. One reason why he was so popular was that he was not afraid of 
soiling his hands. His favorite uniform for field work was a pair of brown 
overalls. The late Judge Tenney came to a gang of students at work on a 
troublesome ditch and enquired "Where can I find Dr. Miles." "That man 
in overalls down in the quicksands of the ditch is Dr. Miles." The professor 
of practical agriculture was in touch with the soil. This might have been 
well, l)ut every good manager of large gangs of men at work knows that it 
is a mistake to labor nnich, if any, with his own hands. 

Since his first connection with tlie Michigan Agricultural ( -ollegc^ in 1870, 
for forty years, the writer was uniformly one of the most tenacious of the 
members of the faculty to u])h()ld in every way the practical or industrial 
side of the agricultural course, indoors and outdoors. For eleven years he 
had charge of horticulture, as well as of botany, and during that time half 
or more of the students were assigned to him for oversight of their work. 
During that period and ever since (to 1910), he has given a good deal of 
attention to the subject, and asserts that there has been no one thing at the 
College which has been the cause of so much troul)le as the compulsory 
paid labor, — especially where students engage at ordinary work. 

The following are som(> of th(^m : 

1. It was often very difficult to find profitable work at some seasons 
of the year. 

2. The interruption of two short vacations in the growing seasons in- 
terfered with plans for continuous care of pieces of land. 

3. Students all worked at the same time of day, beginning at one o'clock 
p. m., and on this account there were often too many of them to work to 
advantage. They seldom completed jobs they began, and thus lost in- 
terest. 

4. As the numbers were large there were never enough skillful foremen, 
so that the students got into i)rimitive methods of work, and formed bad 
habits. 

5. As the student receiv(Hl ])ay he was earning something, and this often 
led the forinnan to ke(^p a man working at what he could do best, as is the 
custom in most factories, instead of frequently changing the kin(l of work, 
so that the student might gain skill in many directions. Besides, he almost 
always preferred to work at what he could do best, thus insuring the highest 
rate of wages. His sentiment Avas, "put me anywhere that I may perform 
good work, then I shall get the highest wages." 



MANUAL LABOR BY STUDI<:N^rS. 



195 



6. Stiulents were inucli more sensitive about receiving less than the 
maximum rate of wages, than they were about receiving low marks for 
recitations in class. They often stoutly questioned the judgment of the 
foreman in })la{'ing an estimate on their labor, but usually acciuiesccd in the 
grade of marks given for recitations or examinations. 

7. Too often the student felt that he accomplished little, and was working 
merely for the name of the thing. 

Notwithstanding defects and difficulties of management, that system of 
requiring labor was far better than absence of manual training during the 
college course, but it long seemed clear to me that the method could be vastly 
improved. 

One reason for rc^quiring some manual labor in connection with a course 




Plouse of the Union Literary Society, near Wells Hall. 

of study is this: If a student performs no labor during his college course, 
he is not likely to return to labor when he leaves the College. Tlie athlete 
who can jump, run, kick, vault, row, swim, skate, or throw a ball better than 
most of his associates and neighbors, delights in th(\s(; sports, while the 
man who is unsuccessful in these things makes little effort, and never evinces 
much interest in his own attempts. 

The young man who can harness a team properly, turn a straight and 
even furrow, shear a sheep quickly and to perfection, buikl a good haystack, 
mark out th(> land for corn, and run a cultivator so near the straight rows 
that scarcely a line is left uncultivated, will be proud of his achievements. 
He will economize time and strength and make a success of his work. So 
in the numerous details of work in horticulture, where such mechanical 
skill and alertness are required for excellence, if one lacks training and 
success in these manual operations and dislikes the work he continues to 



196 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

display that lack of skill. The same is true in the class-room and laboratory; 
if after a thorough training under the eye of a skillful teacher the young person 
becomes proficient in certain directions, he enjoys his studies. 

We suppose a course in an agricultural college is to fit a man for farming 
in some of its numerous departments, but no matter how well he understands 
the theories of the subject and sciences pertaining thereto, he is not likely 
to engage in the business unless he also possesses a good knowledge of most 
kinds of manual operations pertaining to farming, and if he ventures to 
engage in the business without possessing this manual dexterity, he will 
have many a hard row to hoe, very likely become discouraged, and 
sooner or later abandon the farm, because his training was unsymmetrical 
and incomplete. 

To make the most of manual labor in an agricultural course, it should 
all, or nearly all, be performed with a view to acquiring skill, and not to the 
immediate returns. Skill in most farm and garden operations may usually 
be acquired in many directions if instruction is given and accompanied 
by practice. This practice is as much a necessary part of a thorough agri- 
cultural education as are the clinics for a young surgeon, or the practice 
with test tube and reagents for the chemist, or the correct use of a section 
cutter and reagents for the student of plant histology. The hand is trained 
with the eye and the mind, each helping the other, and without both the 
young person is not well qualified for success. 

If a candidate is found already skillful in some kinds of work, I should 
by all means pass him accordingly, and not compel him to repeat the work as 
a condition of attendance. I should permit and even encourage him to 
acquire this skill elsewhere than at college, during the vacations or before 
entering. In case young men have never engaged in farm work, I should 
insist that they acquire skill in certain operations common to farming before 
entering the college, or during vacations early in the course. It is too much 
to expect a college course to include the teaching of all the elements of the 
handicraft of agriculture. 

If students desire to work for pay and it can be supplied, let them work, 
and be rewarded according to their skill and faithfulness, but this should 
not be required. 

You will conclude that the writer's plan would be to exact of every student 
who enters the agricultural course, without exception, the passing of a rigid 
examination in the various parts of farm and garden work, not expecting 
him to receive pay for work while learning how to perform it. 

A course of manual training on farm or in garden cannot be so easily or 
pleasantly managed as a course of practice in shops for the degree of me- 
chanical engineering, but it is practicable. In the shop, the student has 
a definite place to work, rain or shine, and is not exposed to mud or sunshine. 
The tasks can be more easily defined, and perhaps his success more easily 
gauged by some standard. It is needless to say that the examination for 
testing the proficiency in farm labor should not be oral or in writing, but 
consist in actually performing many tasks assigned for the test. 

For thirty-three years, closing in 1910, the writer managed a botanic 
garden, where considerable of the labor was performed by students, for 
wages. During the forty years while at the College, I was studying at 
times, the easiest and quickest method of performing tasks and no matter 
who was at work, prided myself on my ability to show anyone at least one 
good way to do each kind of work. An effort was made to induce the 
students to think of a good method for each task, what implement was the 



MANUAL LABOR BY STUDENTS. 



197 



best for each part of the work, and if no implement was in the market, the 
method was (as practiced by Frank GuUey, '85) to know how to fix it or to 
make one that would work. 

My practice was to show anyone if necessary how best to select and how 
to handle any implement for ease and despatch, whether it was the scuffle 
hoe, the rake, the spade, the dung fork, the shovel, lawn mower, edging knife, 
edging mower, tree pruner, or wheelbarrow; also exactly how to select, cut, 
take up, handle and lay sods after the soil had been properly pulverized 
graded and packed, and how and when to pack the sods firmly. 

Probably for these reasons, at least for the last thirty years of my service, 
the student who could get work at the garden under my supervision, con- 
sidered himself fortunate, for he learned to do things well and expeditiously 
with the least expense of effort. 




House of the Eclectic Society. 



The reader has noticed that large numbers of persons during the early 
history of the College and previous to the opening for students, mentioned 
the importance of manual labor as an important part of an agricultural 
education, and they were right in their estimate; though most others insist 
that the time of a student in college can be employed to better advantage 
than in learning how to use a hoe, a shovel, a rake, or some more complicated 
machine. While preparing the history of the Michigan Agricultural College, 
I consider myself very fortunate to be able to show the need of good in- 
structions in handling so common an implement as a shovel, — that it is 
extremely rare that one can find a person who knows how to select and 
properly use a shovel in moving sand, ashes or coal. 

I quote a few sentences from an article in the World's Work of February, 
1911, pages 14 to 45, by Arthur W. Page, concerning scientific management as 
learned and taught by Frederick W. Taylor. 

"Scientific management is a system of conducting industrial plants which 
has been evolved by a successful man in a successful business. It is the 



lOS 



HISTORY OK MIOIIKMN A(!Rl(niLTURAL COLI.IOGE. 



result of Iwciily-six years of work l>y Mr. Frederick W. Taylor in the Midvale 
Steel Works in IMiiladelphia. 

"After Mr. 'i'aylor had spent, many years in l)uil<lin^- uj) "scienlilic nian- 
a|!;eni(>nt," pieces by piece, in the Midvah; St(!el Works, he was askcul to in- 
troduce it into the works of tlu! iiethlelieni St-eel Company. At that plant 
there was a ^reat yard, ai)])r()ximately two miles lonp; and half a mile wide, 
in which there were about six hundred ukmi who shoveled sand, coal, ashes, 
etc. 

"Most shov(^l contractors undoubtedly beli(!ve that tlu; way to shovc^l is 
to shovel, and that there is no more science to it than a laborer will ac<piire 
by pract.ic(^ At HetJilehem the men supplied their own shovels, which 




Uoiisc of llu- UcHpcriaii Sooicly, former rcsiik'Uci! of C. D. Woodbury. 



they chose to suit, themselves, and they worked, each man accordiiifj; to his 
own method. 

"Mr. Taylor's analysis showed that, a, first class man working ni noiinal 
spe(>d could handle more material on a shovel that lu'ld a 21 -pound load than 
on any other. A lighter load necessitated too hiji;h a si)e(>d, and a heavier 
load meant too great a, strain on the man. It is hard to say whether it is 
more remarkable that Mr. Taylor should hav(> thouj;,ht to do such a thing or 
that no one else had thought to do so before. 

"Mr. Taylor pick(>d out tiie miMi and had them instructed one by one how 
to work and how fast to work. 

"At first sight it would seem a usel(>ss waste to have a tool house with 
many different tools for men who had been accustomed to supplying their 
own shovels, and a- further waste to have a lot of men phuming work for a 
gang of shovellers, and others instructing and timing them, and more folly yet 
to investigate the "science" of shoxdling as if a man who had shovelled 



MANUAL LABOR BY STUDENTS. 



199 



for fifteen years would not know how to do it. Certainly it all would have 
seemed foolish if it had not been for the results, which were these: 

The number of laborers was reduced from 600 to 140. 

The average number of tons handled per man per day 

was increased from 10 to 59. 

The average earnings per man per day rose from $1.15 to $1.88. 

The average cost of handling a long ton (2,240 lbs.) 

decn^ised from 7.2 cents to 8.3 cents. 

"In tlie 3.3 cents i)er ton for cost of luuidling is included the wages of 




Hoiis(^ of llic Olympic.' Society, fonuerly owned by I'lofessor Uoldswoitli 



all men in the planning department, th(! timekeepers, etc. During the first 
six montiis (when the system was further perfected) the saving was about as 
much more — or a total of approximately $72,000 in (Mgiite(ui months. This 
had been accom])lish(!d without overworking tiie men. 

"Every man had a full instruction-(tard telling him all tluit he needed 
to know about his job. The materials which he was to work with and his 
tools had been brought to him. Where tlujy saved time was in knowing 
what to do and in having the proper facilities for doing it. They were not 
wasting time; going after tools or asking (luestions of the foreman. 

"Such training as Mr. Taylor i)racticed would give the men in the ranks 
of industry the knowledge which everyone now agrees they woefully lack." 

In teaching students how to work, the time is too limited to go over every- 
thing; selections of topics must be inad(\ 

Regarding educational labor without pay, President Abbot in his report 
for 1880 said: 



200 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"The problem, — how to make the labor more educational, and yet make it 
earn the wages that is paid — has been frequently discussed by the officers 
more immediately in charge of labor, and several times in the faculty at 
large. Dr. Beal takes the juniors out in sections almost every afternoon to 
work for an hour under his immediate instruction, in such a way that each 
goes two afternoons a month. For this labor they receive no pay." 

So timid were members of the faculty regarding this kind of labor, that, 
to start with, they were unwilling to permit more than a very limited amount 
of it. 

Among the resolutions adopted at the meeting of the Alumni Association, 
October, 1885, is the following: 

"Resolved, That we reaffirm our unabated faith in the labor-system of 
the College, and heartily endorse the views expressed by President Willits 
concerning it." 

COMPULSORY MANUAL LABOR GIVING WAY. 

In the Speculum for August, 1887, are these sentences: 

"The work system still continues to be a subject of discussion among our 
students. Ever since the opening of the College, daily attendance at work 
has been compulsory for all able-bodied students, except during a few weeks 
in the senior year just previous to Commencement. 

"A careful study of the course of instruction offered at this College will 
convince any one that students must work both on the farm and garden at 
some time during their course. Horticulture and agriculture can not be 
thoroughly taught unless this plan is followed. To reap any benefit from 
these studies the student must become familiar with the methods of work 
and experiment, and this he can only accomplish by engaging in them him- 
self. So far as the compulsory work is educational, it is of value to the 
student, but as now conducted the afternoon work is almost entirely con- 
fined to the two branches just named. 

"During the fall term all seniors who take chemical physics will be ex- 
cused from manual labor, as the recitations will be held in the afternoon. 
Junors will work as now, except that during the latter half of the term they 
will have two afternoons a week for work in anatomy. Sophomores will 
work as now during nine weeks of the term but will have three weeks of work 
in the blacksmith shop, while the work for freshmen will be practically 
unchanged. 

"Seniors who take horticulture during the spring term will work in the 
horticultural laboratory, while the work in other classes remains about 
the same. Military drill will be compulsory for all students this term." 

Professor L. H. Bailey in his report for 1886 says: 

"I adhere to the principle that the primary object of student labor is to 
instruct the student. So far as possible, this labor should precede the lec- 
tures. No one can acquire the art of budding from a lecture. The student 
must perform the operation with his own hands. A man never learned how 
to build an engine from lectures alone. I lectured two days upon the prac- 
tice of root grafting, whittling the stocks and scions and making particular 
mention of all the minor movements of the operation. The next day, when 
these students took the knives and material into their own hands, I was 
obliged to repeat all my former instructions." 

While L. H. Bailey was a student, I had given to him and others of his 
class three lectures on pruning grapes, illustrating the subject by taking 
large vines into the class room. Later in the vineyard, when I gave each 



MANUAL LABOR BY STUDENTS 



201 



a knife for work, he hesitated and asked questions, and after a while said, 
"This is worth more than all of your lectures." Of course he was right. 

The advantages to the student in attending a small college have often 
been mentioned by many teachers. The student comes in contact with the 
head of a department and is not taught by an inexperienced instructor; 
there he gains enthusiasm for some lines of study, which is proportionally 
less likelj^ to occur in a large university. In the Michigan Agricultural 
College the same discrepancy is apparent. Note the unanimity of the early 
teachers in regard to the success of compulsory manual labor, when students 
were few in number. Notwithstanding stout resolutions by the Board of 
Agriculture regarding the enforcement of labor by students, in 1891 you will 
observe, as the program became more congested and the students increased 




House of the Phi Delta Society, formerly owned by A. C. Bird. 



in number, the stumping and ditching mostly done, that study after study 
crept into the afternoon, until gradually laboratory work took the place of 
the previously paid labor. Presidents, Williams, Abbot, Willits and Clute had 
gone, Dr. Miles had long ago departed, and Dr. Beal had ceased to be in 
charge of much student labor after 1882. A new president, Gorton, and a new 
professor of agriculture, C. D. Smith, found it easier, and we admit, found 
it necessary, to drop some of the old methods, and those members of the 
faculty not in charge of the labor gradually acquiesced in the inevitable 
change. 

Note the report of the professor of agriculture in 1895: ''We are at- 
tempting, as outlined In my last report, to do a large share of our teaching in 
the hours of student labor. We believe that a change of emphasis from 
didactic class-room lectures and recitations to what might correctly be 
called laboratory work in the afternoon is, from every point of view, de- 



202 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

sirable. In the matter of live stock, for instance, while the lectures on the 
different breeds and their peculiarities continue in the freshman year, sup- 
plemented by the lectures on stock-breeding and stock-feeding in the junior 
year, the most valuable study of live stock is made in the yards and fields 
in the afternoon work of the first term of the sophomore year — when three 
weeks, two and one-half hours each day is exclusively devoted to judging 
animals." 

In 1870, the students in Iowa Agricultural College numbered one hundred 
and ninety-two, all of whom labored three hours daily, as required by the 
state law. The labor was said to be managed with great tact and skill. 

On June 4-5, 1895, when the College was over thirty-eight years old, 
during the latter part of President Gorton's administration, the State Board 
of Agriculture among other things, resolved: 

That we hereby affirm our allegiance to the system of compulsory labor 
provided for in our organic law, and assert that we have the authority in 
the interpretation of that law to provide that kind of manual training which, 
in our judgment, will best prepare the young people studying at our College 
for a successful agricultural career. 

"That the faculty of our College are hereby instructed to enforce the 
provisions of the law relative to manual labor in our College as a feature 
of our course of instruction that applies to every student enrolled at the 
College, whether regular, special, summer or winter, who enjoys the ad- 
vantages of our course and accepts the tuition of our corps of instructors, and 
we invite the faculty by recommendation to assist this Board in so arranging 
our system of manual instructions as to be of the highest value in carrying 
out the object sought in our scheme of education. 

"That in the assignment of labor no special line of work done for any 
attache of the College or for any department of the College shall be allowed 
to be substituted for manual labor in the regular course unless equally valuable 
to the regular required labor in subserving the cardinal purpose of the in- 
stitution. 

"That we earnestly entreat the faculty, the students and all attaches 
of the College, in conservation, action and influence to be loyal to the view 
of our labor system in the college course as expressed in these resolutions." 

At the time these resolutions were passed, during hours for labor of students 
from one to four in the afternoon there were classes for the mechanical stu- 
dents as follows: civil engineering 1 day, field practice, thesis work 10 hours 
per week; laboratory in strength of materials 2| hours per week; shop prac- 
tice 10 hours per week; chemical laboratory 4 hours per week; physical lab- 
oratory 2 hours per week. The resolutions adopted perhaps refer to stu- 
dents in the agricultural course, though this is not very clear. 

The fact that down to 1895 and earlier, every year or so, some one of 
the faculty, having to look after student labor, proposed what he termed a 
change in student labor indicates that the work was troublesome and 
unstable. 

In his report for the year 1882, President Abbot said, "Happy indeed 
are the College officers who are free from the bother of students' labor and 
students' board. I reiterate what I have heretofore said, that the students 
work as they study, and that they study here as well as in other institutions." 

In 1882, I stated in the Rural New Yorker that, "Considering these diffi- 
culties, I believed the time would come when compulsory work for pay would 
be abandoned. With numerous trials by others who were earnest, ingenious, 
and persistent, the difficulties continued. 



MANUAL LABOR BY STUDENTS. 203 

I quote portions of letters furnished by request in 1891 from men of ex- 
perience in agricultural colleges. 

Professor Thomas Shaw, Ontario Agricultural College. 

''This is confessedly a most difficult question. While nearly all those 
who have studied it are agreed that some labor should be done by students 
attending these colleges, there is by no means a concensus of opinion as to the 
amount of it that will best serve the intended end, as to the best mode of 
distributing it, and as to the amount of the remuneration that should be 
given for it. 

"There is no doubt in the mind of the writer that labor should at the 
present time be required, to some extent, from students who take a full course 
at these colleges, for the reason that unless they do some manual labor it 
will soon become distasteful to them." 

Professor S. F. Maynard, Massachusetts Agricultural College, as re- 
ported in the Speculum, June 10, 1891: 

"Agriculture, which is the most complicated of all of the arts or industries 
of man, requiring a knowledge of a greater number of the natural sciences 
than any other, is no exception to the conditions which exist in other in- 
dustries, and if in all other industrial schools and colleges it is found that 
practice must go hand in hand with the study of the sciences from the book, 
it follows that the best results will also be obtained in those agricultural 
colleges where manual training is an important part of the curriculum." 

When manual labor ceases to be performed altogether, a habit of the 
system is induced which makes it difficult to take it up again. 

Unless the young man who intends to farm is diligent in acquiring the 
art of performing manual labor well at the proper age, the time for doing this 
soon goes by and like the snow which melted at the close of last winter, it 
never comes again. 

It is very clear then that the question of paying for student labor will one 
day become so burdened with difficulties as to lead in all probability to its 
abolition. 

President Oscar Clute said: "This system, begun with no experience, has 
grown with the Michigan Agricultural College, and has become one of the 
strongest factors in its prosperity." 

President George T. Fairchild, Kansas Agricultural College, who also 
was previously a professor in Michigan Agricultural College, wrote: 

"Not the least is the cultivation of respect for energetic effort and con- 
sequent appreciation of the actual toil needed in every kind of life. Another 
is the encouragement given to readiness in any undertaking without reference 
to the amount of physical energy required. When the routine of life in- 
cludes such labor, toil anywhere seems easier to undertake, and muscular 
exertion is a pleasure rather than a hardship. Again this helps to develop 
that practical judgment which makes the efficient man in every calling." 

While Professor of Agriculture in 1890, E. Davenport wrote: 

"This is, without doubt, one of the most difficult features of our work, 
and, withal, one of the most valuable. The whole field of agricultural in- 
struction is so new, its principles are so little understood and so illy classified, 
that our work is largely that of pioneers. That nobody has yet found all 
the best methods is evident to the most ordinary looker-on. 

"On the whole I think I may safely say that the past year has been fairly 
successful. The student pay roll has doubled under the same rate of pay. 
Apphcations for excuse grow less and less frequent, and but few betray a 



204 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

desire to avoid the daily labor. We rarely excuse, and are but rarely urged 
to do so. 

"While much of the student labor is not what it should be, nor what I 
believe it may be made, I am glad to report that very much indeed is of a 
high order of excellence. Students have been given responsible work. 

"While I shall never rest satisfied till the student labor is greatly im- 
proved, I may say in general that I find the utmost willingness, and that 
m}^ relations with the students have been of the most pleasant kind. What 
seems to have been accomplished is more satisfactory and has been more 
pleasant than I dared in the beginning to hope." 

Professor Taft, having the duties of the horticultural department, with a 
foreman, a florist, and a hired man or two to help him, was expected to plan 
work for one hundred and twenty-five students from one o'clock till four 
each school day. The teaching force was utterly incapable of handling 
such a crowd. The situation was disheartening, demoraUzlng, and this 
was a sample of the "labor system," usually so called. In 1889 there were 
twenty to thirty acres of lawn, nearly six miles of walks and drives, besides 
shrubbery and trees to be cared for ; then came hundreds of details of planting 
and testing large numbers of varieties in the vegetable garden and fruit 
garden. No wonder some things were not in tip-top order to suit the eye 
of a critical visitor — and great numbers of visitors, including professors, 
felt amply competent to find fault, because everything was not done right 
and on time. The writer knows how it is for he once had such work to look 
after. 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 205 



CHAPTER XIII. 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 



Some may think this chapter unduly long, but the ground covered is 
one that interests most students in a high degree. 

LITERARY SOCIETIES FOR MEN. 

•In the catalogue for 1862, the following statement appears: 

"The students have organized two Literary Societies in the institution; 
The Cincinnatus Lyceum, and The Sons of Demeter. The exercises in these 
societies consists principally of discussions, essays and lectures." The 
Cincinnatus Lyceum was active in 1873. 

The next year, 1863, we read, ''The students have organized a Literary 
Society in the institution." 

Whether the imposing names adopted in 1862 caused the disappearance 
of the two societies then announced or whether they died from some other 
cause, we are not informed. In 1866 and for 42 years, 1907 inclusive, the 
following is the uniform statement: 

"The students have organized several literary societies in the institution. 
The exercises consist principally of discussions, essays and lectures." The 
names of the societies are not given. The title "Agricultural College 
Lyceum" is used twice or more in the Bubble, a monthly paper printed 
May 30th to October 24, 1868. 

In 1868 some students formed a society, calling it The Stoical-Pen- Yanker's 
Society. They published a few numbers of a paper called the Bubble. 
See "Pubhcations." 

The Philomathesian Society was active in 1873, when established, but 
when it became inactive is not now apparent. 

The Excelsior Lyceum, a freshman society, was organized in 1876, but 
apparently was short-lived. 

The Union Literary Society was founded April 8, 1876 by members of 
the classes of 76, 77, and 78. W. C. Latta, 77, President, W. K. Prudden, 
78, Secretary. It is thus the oldest literary society of the college now 
existing. For some years the members held their meetings in class room A, 
in College Hall. They then secured the rooms under the west ward of old 
Wells Hall, where they remained until the summer of 1890, when the U. L, 
S. hall, between Wells and the greenhouse, was dedicated. The Union 
Literary Society is the only society at this College possessing a building 
of its own on the campus. The society pin was designed by F. E. Skeels, 78. 

The name Students Organization is a rather indefinite term used in the 
Junior Annual in the year 1889. This organization was founded some 
years before for taking action on a variety of subjects apparently with 
duties pertaining to table board. The same year appear a foot-ball associa- 
tion and tennis clubs. In 1895 the chief duties of the Students Organization 
seemed to be to look after everything pertaining to athletics. It is difficult 
to follow all the changes that have occurred. 



206 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Eclectic Society. This society was organized by a number of students, 
March 12, 1877. ^ J. R. Monroe, 78, President; P. J. Lewis, 78, Secretary. 
Its rooms, beginning in 1878, were located on the fourth floor of Williams 
Hall, east end. In 1906 it rallied its forces, and began to build, completing 
in 1907 an imposing brick building on the plat of Oakwood. The late A. 
C. Bird '82 and F. C. Kenney were foremost in carrying the project through. 

COLLEGE PUN AND CONUNDRUM CLUB. 

A column or two of the initial three numbers of the Speculum, first published 
in 1881, were given up to humorous matter under the above headlines. 
The leading spirit, if not the whole force of the "Club" was H. W. Colling- 
wood '83, some of whose effusions would do credit to the columns of Life. 
For many years, the Rural New Yorker, of which Mr. Collingwood has 
long been the editor, contained humorous and witty sketches and verses 
apparently giving vent to surplus thought that could not l)e held back. 
Collingwood is the most trenchant writer that the College has produced. 
Below are samples : 

"Mr. Editor — Since the last report the Club held its regular meeting at 
midnight in the tower of Williams' Hall. It has become necessary for the 
Club to make use of this almost inaccessible resort, and to meet at this 
unusual hour, on account of the threatened violence of some unsympathetic 
students. 

"We give the following as a specimen of the fearfully and wonderfully 
made puns that come from our senior class — the villian is still at large : 

"If I should wake up in the night, and hear my partner sigh in his sleep, 
and fear that he was sick, why would it be like a chemical combination? 

Because it would be "fear o'sigh at night." (Ferro-cyanide.) 

Ye Chapyle Belle. 

"At ye lone houre of night, 'twas a terryble syght, 
When he called us out to some fantastyc ryte. 

And ye Freshy-fresh wakened with sudden affryght, 
To heare ye mad peale of ye belle. 

And there in his garments so ayry bedyght, 

At ye sound of wild yells, and ye belly-belle-belle, 
He tremblyngty nayled ye doore of his celle." 

The Olympic Society. Location — fourth floor of Williams Hall. Organ- 
ized in September, 1885 — largely through the initiative of A. L. Marhoff, 
'89, F. L. Wrigglesworth, '86, President. Though called a literary society, 
its whole purpose as expressed in the constitution, was to improve the in- 
tellectual, moral and social quahties of its members. Each of these objects 
received due attention, as is shown by its record both present and past. 
They occupied their room in Williams Hall in 1887. At present the members 
own a house on Abbot road. 

The Hesperian Society was organized March 16, 1889; the meetings were 
held in several places; and in 1890 the members met at 7:30 every Saturday 
evening in the society rooms in the basement of the west ward of old Wells 
Hall. In 1905 they met in a house rented in Oakwood; in 1911 the Society 
purchased the dwellhig of C. D. Woodbury. 

The Columbian Literary Society was organized in March, 1892; W. M. 
Fulton '95, President, W. J. Cummins, with '94, Secretary. Regular meet- 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 207 

ings were held every Staurday evening in their rooms in the basement of the 
middle ward of old Wells Hall; later in April 1897, they were assigned the 
former nice rooms of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity in the fourth story, 
west end of Williams Hall. The society is building a commodious house 
east of the College orchard. 

The Phi Delta Society was organized in March 1898, with Homer B. 
Clark, '00, President and Adorf B. Krentel '99 Secretary. This society 
consisted of the members of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity when that was 
abandoned. Their room was in the basement east end of Wells Hall; in 
the fall of 1907 they moved into a home on the North Abbot Road; in 1912 
they purchased the home of Mrs. A. C. Bird. 

The Debating Society was organized in the fall of 1901 ; meetings are held 
weekly; No. 7 in College Hall is often too small for the crowd. 

The Prohibition League. This association was organized April 1, 1902 
9,s The M. A. C. Prohibition Club, later changed as above. As the name 
indicates, the object is to discuss various phases of the liquor question. 

The Eunomian Literary Society was organized October 10, 1903, under the 
name of Sigma Mu Beta, and in 1904 that name was changed to Eunomian. 
In the fall of 1906, the members secured a room on the fourth floor. Ward 
D. of new Wells Hall; in the spring of 1907 they secured rooms in WiUiams 
Hall. 

The Sigma Mu Beta society organized October 10, 1903, meeting in the 
rooms of the Y. M. C. A. in Williams Hall. In 1904 the name of the society 
was changed to Eunomian, which see. 

The Aurorean Society, was organized September 30, 1905 in College Hall; 
a year later they secured rooms in Ward E., new Wells Hall. 

The Forensic Society was organized October 19, 1907 in the chapel, soon 
securing rooms in new Wells Hall, Ward F. 

The Delphic Society was organized in the chapel on November 7, 1908; 
on March 20, 1909 moved to rooms in Ward A. New Wells. 

The Athenaeum Literary Society was organized 1909, rooms in Ward C, 
new Wells Hall. Their rooms are rented under the name of Campus Club. 

The Ionian Society was organized March 5, 1909 in College Hall; the 
next spring they took rooms in Ward D. new Wells Hall. 

The Cosmopolitan Club was informally begun in the fall of 1909, and 
formally organized January 18, 1910, with E. C. Lindemann, President; 
M. C. Ellman, Secretary. In the main, the members are students from 
different foreign nations. They are using the rooms of the Y. M. C. A. 

The object of this club is to cultivate social intercourse between the students 
of the different nationalities, and further, as its constitution states, "to 
study the conditions of, and to promote a better understanding of the political, 
social and cultural problems of the various countries, and thereby foster 
the spirit of universal brotherhood." 

The local chapter has been admitted to the Corda Frater National Associa- 
tion of Cosmopolitan Clubs, a great factor working toward international 
peace. 

The Phylean Literary Society was organized in room 6, College Hall 
March 1910, soon obtaining rooms in Ward B new Wells Hall; in 1913, they 
occupyed the Dixon house, next west of the Peoples Church. 

The Delta Club was organized in 1910; in 1913, the society occupies the 
Hewit house. 

The Round Table Club was organized in 1910 mainly for the three upper 
classes, to afford practice in after dinner speeches; meetings held once a 



208 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

month. Membership is Hmited to twenty and joining is by invitation; 
discontinued in 1912. 

The Penman's Club was organized in 1910, chiefly for those interested 
in work in connection with newspapers and magazines. Every year it has 
a dual-purpose banquet; discontinued in 1912. 

The Sociological Club, was organized 1910 and consists of a few members 
of the faculty and others most of whom are juniors and seniors of the College. 
Membership is by invitation only and is limited to 25 men, holding meetings 
every two weeks during the college year; survived two years. 

The Alpha, Freshman Society. On Saturday, December 3, 1910, this 
society was launched with about twenty-five members, a twin to the Beta; 
lasted two years. 

The Beta, Freshman Society. On Saturday, December 3, 1910, this 
Society was launched with about twenty -five members, a twin to the Alpha; 
lasted two years. 

The Glee Club was organized October 31, 1911 with John A. Holden, 
President; W. C. Corey, Secretary; Ira Westervelt, Treasurer; Mr. Fred 
Killeen, Director. 

The Mandolin Club was organized in 1912. The name is an indication 
of the object of the society; later combined with the Glee Club, meeting 
in the chapel. 

The Trimoira Literary Society was organized in 1912, with rooms ir 
Ward D, Wells Hall; members are chosen from sophomores, juniors and 
seniors. 

LITERARY SOCIETIES FOR WOMEN, 

The Feronian Society was organized on March 20, 1891 with Mrs. Fred 
Hillman, '91, first president. For ten years they met here and there Friday 
afternoons, mostly in rooms of some of the literary societies, until the com- 
pletion of the Woman's Building. The society pin was designed bv Mis'^ 
Jessie Beal, '90. 

The Themian Society was organized, January 8, 1898, largely through 
the efforts of Irma G. Thompson, 1900. Meetings were held in the chapel 
for a time, then in September, 1898, in the rooms of the Phi Delta Theta 
Fraternity; in 1910 they used rooms of State Board of Agriculture, now 
occupied by the Entomological Department; in 1900 they took rooms in 
the Woman's Building. 

The Sororian Society was organized in the autumn of 1902; occupying 
rooms with the Feronian Society in the Woman's Building. 

The M. A. C. Women's Club was organized in the spring of 1903, with 
Dean Maude Gilchrist, President; Mrs. C. B. Collingwood, Secretary. 
Membership is unrestricted and is open to all women of the neighborhood, 
i. e., of the campus and village. Meetings are held every two weeks during 
the college year. 

The Ero Alphian Society was organized March 15, 1904, Bertha Hinkson, 
'05, President; Grace Owen, '08, Secretary. They meet in the rooms of the 
Themian Society. 

The Idlers was organized in the fall of 1908 to improve the social life of 
its members — went out of existence in 1911. 

The Sesame Society was organized in 1910, and accepted by the faculty 
February 11, 1911. 

The Glee Club (Women's) was organized January, 1912 with Miss Louise 
Clemens, President; Miss Blanch MacGregor, Secretary and Treasurer; 
Miss Louise Freyhofer, Director. 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 209 

LITERARY AND SOCIAL. 

(Men and Women.) 

Shakespeare Club was begun in 1898; members of the faculty, their wives 
and a few others organized a club which met weekly from house to house; 
ceased to exist in 1906. 

ORATORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

"This association," as described by the Wolverine of 1901, "was organized 
in the fall of 1887. Its first object was to prepare for an inter-collegiate 
oratorical association of the state which was then in the process of organiza- 
tion. The first idea was to hold contests in oratory at the same time as the 
inter-collegiate athletic contests, but this was not carried out, as it was found 
impractical. At the time of organization there were only three societies 
in the association, viz.: Union Literary, Eclectic, and Olympic. June 5, 
1890, the Hesperian Society was admitted; October 1, 1895, the Columbian 
Literary Society; November 22, 1898, the Feronian Society. 

"The year 1900 was characterized by quite important changes in the 
association. An entirely new constitution was adopted January 17, 1900, 
at which time the Phi Delta Society was taken into the association, making 
seven societies in all. Also, the records were thoroughly looked up and 
several errors corrected. The first contest was not recorded, and the 
exact date of organization could not be found. The contest of October 
29, 1892, was left out of the record books; but a full account was found in 
the Speculum of that date. With these two contests counted in, it will be 
seen that thirteen contests have been held. This will make the one held 
February 23, 1900, the thirteenth instead of the eleventh as printed on the 
programs this year." This organization is still in thriving existence. 

The Dante Club organized in 1894, was short-lived. Meetings were 
held every Wednesday evening at the office of the Assistant Professor, A. 
B. Noble, College Hall. 

The M. A. C. Grange. For some years officers of the State Grange and 
certain members of the faculty considered the matter of establishing a 
grange at the Agricultural College. The M. A. C. grange of the Patrons of 
Husbandry, was organized March 29, 1895. For a time it met with moderate 
success, finding two prominent difficulties which were the means of causing 
the abandonment of the grange. (1.) Nearly all the best students already 
belonged to some one of the hterary societies which was uppermost in 
their plans. (2.) Some of the officers of the grange must be women or 
girls, and "the powers that be" at that time were unwilling to estabhsh a 
society open to both sexes. 

The Chorus is an organization meeting once a week and holding a concert 
each year known as the "May Festival." 

The New York Club was formally organized in February 24, 1909; the 
members are students of both sexes from the state of New York, including 
all teachers from that state. 

LIBERAL ARTS UNION. 

It is the purpose of this union to encourage and stimulate a greater interest 
in those matters that make a broader social and cultural life in the College, 
and to this end it encourages and supports all organizations that tend to 
bring about such conditions. There seems to be need of some organization 

27 



210 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

to stand responsible for May Festivals and various other entertainments; 
hence this organization early in 1909. 

The Dramatic Club, (Men and Women) was organized in the spring of 
1910; the name is an indication of the purpose of its members. 

SCIENTIFIC AND KINDRED SOCIETIES. 

The Natural History Society. 

On May 17, 1872, such an organization was formed by the students, aided 
by the members of the College faculty. Although it is called a Natural 
History Society, its objects have always been broader than this name would 
indicate, and include chemistr}-, mechanics, engineering and astronomy; 
even a little pure mathematics has occasionally been tolerated. 

The members worked by sections, where they were placed by the president 
who gave each a choice where it was practicable. The chairman of each 
section was usually a member of the faculty, and helped start the members 
of his section in some appropriate investigation. The sections were botany, 
zoology, geology, chemistry and scientific methods. The communications 
were presented to the sections meeting as one body. 

This old society had a feeble existence after the Botanical Club and 
Zoological Club had been formed in 1886. It is difficult to fix the exact 
date of its disappearance, perhaps in 1904. 

In one of his reports President Abbot wrote: 

"The Natural History Society has been a valuable auxiliary to the educa- 
tional work of the College. It has held monthly meetings, in which the 
members, students, and officers give account of their observations of natural 
phenomena, the habits of animal and plants, and their experiments. The 
society has awakened a zeal for investigation in many of the students; and 
the reports of its papers and discussions in the two newspapers of Lansing 
have been profitable and interesting to many who could not be present at 
all the meetings." 

In April, 1884, a Chemical Club was organized composed of seniors 
and juniors meeting in sections two afternoons of each week, making appar- 
atus and preparing some unusual experiments. It was short lived. 

The Engineering Society was organized as a Mechanical Club in April 
2, 1886 (for men). Two preliminary meetings had been held, and the first 
regular meeting was held Friday evening, April 2nd. All students taking 
the mechanical course can become members by signing the constitution. 
Others not in the mechanical course can be elected, providing three negative 
votes are not cast against them. The officers at first were Prof. McLouth, 
President; Mr. J. Wiseman, Vice President, and Mr. L. C. Bartmess, Secretary 
and Treasurer. 

On June, 1886, a Zoological Club was organized, which met every two 
weeks. It started with 18 active members, the majority of whom were 
juniors. 

August, 1886, a number of the sophomores formed a Botanical Field Club; 
in September 26, 1890 it was called the M. A. C. Botanical Club and met 
a short time on every Wednesday when the members reported on observa- 
tions made, or under the guidance of Dr. Beal visited various parts of the 
grounds, to examine the trees and shrubs, the arboretum, botanic garden, 
museum. The club became dormant in 1910. 

The Farmers' Club, was organized in December 6, 1899 under the auspices 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 211 

of the State Association of Farmers' Clubs; meetings are held on a fixed 
evening each week. 

The Horticultural Club was organized on November 5, 1901 with T. G. 0. 
Phillips, President; S. B. Hartman, Secretary. Meetings are held on every 
alternate Wednesday' evening, after which it is customary to pass around 
fruit of some kind. Toward the end of the spring term, an annual fruit 
banquet is held, with fruit from many sources even California and Florida. 
Its members take part in two contests for prizes offered by the State Horti- 
cultural Society. 

The Research Club. This began in a very informal way in the fall of 1902 
and held meetings at irregular times; the leading spirits at first were Dr. 
Marshall, Professor Pettit and Floyd Robison, with additions from time 
to time. 

The M. A. C. Foresters organized in the fall of 1903, holding meetings 
•every alternate week; in 1907 the name was changed to M. A. C. Forestry 
Club. 

The Dairy Club was organized October 12, 1907 with W. B. Liverance, 
President; J. R. Dice, Secretary. 

The Rifle Club was organized in the winter of '09 and revived in the 
fall of 1910; managed by the Military Department. 

The Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Education. This society 
came into existence on Saturday, January 22, 1910, through the efforts of 
some of the teachers of agriculture in the high schools of the state who were 
in consultation at the College. The officers elected were: R. G. Carr, '09, 
President; R. G. Hoppingarner, '09, Vice-President; C. L. Nash, '09, Secre- 
tary; B. H. Roberts, '09, Treasurer; Professor W. H. French, Corresponding 
Secretary. At present there is no uniform course maintained in the high 
schools. One of the principal aims of this meeting was to make a uniform 
program. The discussions were purely technical, and dealt with the every- 
day problem of the teacher. 

The Poultry Club was organized in the fall of 1910, its members superintend 
poultry shows held in connection with the poultry institute in February. 

The M. A. C. Veterinary Medical Association was organized in 1910. 

The Journal Club is an organization of the teaching force of the Botanical 
department whose aim is the study and discussion of various topics pertain- 
ing to plant life. It meets every two weeks at the home of Dr. Bessey. 
It began in the autumn of 1910, and is now called the Botanical Seminar. 

GREEK LETTER SOCIETIES. 

The Iota Chapter of The Delta Tau Delta Fraternity (for men) was 
established in 1872, and discontinued in 1891, owing to poor choice of new 
members. Their room for meetings, usually on Friday evenings, was after 
a time, on the fourth floor west end of Williams Hall, but this was later 
assigned to the Columbian Society. 

The Beta Chapter of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity (for men) was estab- 
lished November 8, 1873, for a time meeting in the class room of Dr. Beal, 
third floor south-east corner of College Hall, finally in later years, meeting 
Friday evenings in the lower room east end, of old Wells Hall. It was dis- 
continued in March, 1898, owing to the judgment of the grand chapter 
that no chapter should be connected with a college not giving a classical 
education. 

Tau Beta Pi Fraternity is an honorary society for engineering students 



212 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



of the highest grade. A chapter was estabhshed in 1892, and now has 
rooms on the third floor of the Engineering (Mechanical) Building, Avhere 
meetings are held on alternate Thursday evenings during the college year. 

The initiations of the members of this society are to some extent open 
to the public, as the students dress in grotesque costumes and engage during 
a good portion of a day in performing various stunts about the campus. 

The Alpha Zeta Fraternity is an honory society for Agricultural students 
of the highest standing, limited to students of the upper classes. To some 
extent initiations are open to the public. For a time meetings wer e held 
in rooms of the State Board of Agriculture; later, in the horticultural labora- 
tories; now, in comfortable quarters in the new Agricultural Building. The 
Kedzie Chapter was established December 13, 1902. 

The Omicron Nu, an honorary society for women was organized at M. A. 
C. in 1912, consisting of the majority of the faculty of the Division of Home 




Public School, East Lansing. 

Economics and open to juniors and seniors of high scholarship. A chapter 
has since been established at State Normal College, Albany, N. Y., at Iowa 
State College, Ames, Iowa and at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana. 
A number of applications for chapters elsewhere are now under consideration. 

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. 

From the opening of the College, there were religious exercises. 

The College Christian Union was organized in 1871 and gave place in 1881 
to the Young Men's Christian Association. 

The Young Men's Christian Association was established in 1881 and held 
two meetings a week, following the college Christian Union in use of a room 
on the third floor of College Hall. Much the same kind of work was carried 
on as that of the Christian Union. In 1889 the association moved from this 
room to the north-west corner of Williams Hall, first floor. 

The following is from the Junior Annual of the class of 1912: 



/ 

ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 



213 



"The opportunities and duties of the association have multiphed tenfold 
since its birth. The College has grown so rapidly within the last few years 
that it was found that the organization could not make its influence felt 
to the greatest advantage solely through student management. A general 
secretary was therefore secured and devoted his time to the interests of the 
organization. 

"The association tries to promote Christian principles in various ways, 
by holding regular evening meetings on Sunday and Thursdays to give 
opportunities for religious worship, to form Bilile classes to study the work 
of missions. 

"The main ol)ject of the Young Men's Christian Association is to promote 
Christian fellowship. It is by no means an exclusive organization, but 
aims to reach and aid every student in every way within its power. It is 




People's Church, North of M. A. C. 

an organization of students for students. The association has high aims 
and ideals and is worthy of the support of everj^ man in college." 

The Y. M. C. A. Cabinet consists of select members of the Y. M. C. A. 
who act in the capacity of advisors or an executive committee. This society 
is of recent origin. 

The Order of King's Daughters. The Try and Trust Circle largely through 
the efforts of Mrs. Ella Bass Weil was started with five charter members, 
October 8, 1895, usually meeting every alternate Wednesday. Its purposes 
are to develop spiritual life and to stimulate Christian activities. The 
members are mostly women of families of the faculty of the College. 

The Young Women's Christian Association was organized on September 
26, 1896, soon after the course n Home Economics was installed. Meetings 
were for a time held in the parlors of Abbot Hall; later in the recitation 
room of the Woman's Building. Among the activities are prayer meetings, 
Bible classes, union meetings with the Y. M. C. A., sending of delegates to 



214 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



state and local conventions and to a summer school at Lake Geneva or 
elsewhere. 

The Peoples' Church. (Congregational) 

On each Sunday during the attendance of students, a public meeting for 
worship has been held ever since the opening of the College in 1857. Some 
time in 1906, perhaps sooner, the subject of establishing a church in East 
Lansing was considered. Accordingly a church was organized and forJ"a 
time services independent from those of the college were conducted in the 
chapel. 

The chief promoters were college people. The corner stone for a church 
building was laid on Sunday, October 23, 1909 on a lot situated north of the 




A. J. COOK. 
Portrait 1913. 

College and a little east of the -toAvnship line, near two stores. The building 
is largely made of brick and cement and has four massive pillars in front, 
with a dome in place of a steeple. 

The church was dedicated during the week beginning on October 22, 1910 
and the members start off with modern ideas that rooms may be occupied 
daily for purposes social, charitable, religious or civic. 



THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION. 

The meetings are intended not only for alumni, but for all who have been 
students of the college. 

The first meeting called for a reunion was in November 11, 1868, at the 
time of commencement. Besides the class graduating, there were nine 
present, A. J. Cook, W. W. Tracy, C. E. Hollister, G. W. Harrison, S. F. 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 



215 



Sleeper, D. A. Harrison, L. A. Hurlbut, F. S. Burton, G. F. Beasley, and 
perhaps others. The first public meeting with exercises was held in 1869 
in the north room, second floor of College Hall. There were about twenty 
present besides the graduating class. Another meeting was held in 1870 at 
the time of commencement, and at that meeting, it was decided to meet 
triannually, a plan which has been regularly adhered to, except that we 
passed a period of four years previous to meeting at the semicentennial. 

At the meeting in 1873, the date was changed from the time of commence- 
ment in November to August, at the time of junior exhibition. Later, 
commencement came in August, and meetings of alumni also. These, then, 
are the years for meetings of the alumni, 1868, 1869, 1870, 1873, 1876, 1879, 




DR. W. J. BEAL. 
Portrait 1913. 



1882, 1885, 1888, 1891, 1894, 1897, 1900, 1903, 1907, 1910, 1913. For 
portions of the above, I am indebted to Professor A. G. Gulley, '68. 

At the meeting held June, '13, it was voted to drop the name "Alumni" 
and make the society broader in its nature to include all students who had at- 
tended M. A. C. one year. 

A history of the Association appears in the Harrow, by the juniors of 
1890. 

Local associations of alumni have been established in Washington, Chicago, 
Detroit, Grand Rapids, Jackson, Ionia, Columbus in Ohio, New England 
and Portland, Oregon. The Northwestern Association at Minneapolis 
meets at the time of the State Teachers' Association. Gatherings of M. A. 
C. men have occasionally met in connection with meetings of the Associa- 
tion of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations, as at Baton Rouge 
and Washington. 



216 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The Alumni pin is oval in shape, bearing on its face the college monogram, 
also the words, "Alumnus" and "Founded in 1857." All seniors and 
alumni are entitled to wear this emblem, and it is hoped that all will show 
loyalty to their alma mater by so doing. 

An Advisory Council of Alumni. 

As a result of the recent action of the Alumni Association in accepting 
an invitation of long standing from the State Board of Agriculture a com- 
mittee of six representative members of the Alumni were in 1907 appointed 
whose duty it is to meet with the State Board at least once a year for the 
purpose of mutual conference in matters pertaining to the work and welfare 
of the College. 

Those selected were: Chairman, Ray Stannard Baker, '89, of East 
Lansing; William K. Prudden, 79, of Lansing; L. Whitney Watkins, '93, 
of Manchester; Prof. Eugene Davenport, '78, of Urbana, 111.; George J. 
Jenks, '89, of Sand Beach; E. N. Pagleson, '89, of Detroit. 

These members met, some of them more than once, made a report, a copy 
of which was sent each member of the Board of Agriculture. T have not 
learned that any portion of the report was made public. 

The succeeding committee met Dec. 6, 1910 at the Hotel Downey, and 
consisted of A. B. Cook, '93, Chairman; W. K. Prudden, '78; G. J. Jenks, 
'89; L. W. Watkins, '93; Gerrit Masselink, '95, and J. R. McCall, '91. 

CO-OPERATIVE BOOK-BUYING ASSOCIATION. 

Largely through the efforts of Professor W. 0. Hedrick this association 
was organized in December, 1896. For some years previous the subject 
had often been discussed. The association was formed by faculty and the 
students for the purpose of buying text books, stationery, etc., at reduced 
rates. From the start care has been taken to keep down losses by limiting 
the hours when purchases can be made. The store has been successful 
from the start, not only in saving a nice per cent on the goods, but in saving 
the time and expense of going to Lansing for them. 

In November, 1906, a report shows the merchandise sold amounted to 
$14,377. The report at the end of the college year in June, 1911 showed 
that the sales amounted to $25,000, with a saving to students of about 
$5,000. There was at that time dead stock on hand costing not over one 
hundred dollars. Usually the expenses of conducting the store are about 
seven per cent. The trade is now about $60,000 a year. 

THE BOARDING HALLS. 

In the early history of the College a boarding hall was absolutely necessary 
for feeding the students and unmarried employes of the College. A steward 
was appointed by the governing board, who had charge of the domestic 
management of the College, hired the female help, purchased the supplies, 
and presided at the tables in the dining hall. He received a regular salary, 
which was counted as part of the regular expenses of the boarding system, 
and for many years he had the exclusive use of a horse and wagon to bring 
supplies from Lansing. The total expenses of the boarding system for each 
term were divided up among those who enjoyed the creature comforts for 
the season. Friction between the students and steward was frequent, and 
grumbling was normal. After a change of stewards a teamster employed 
on the garden complained that while under the former steward he "had 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 217 

enjoyed all the luxuries of the season, under this man the board was no better 
than on ordinary farms." Some students wanted good board regardless 
of cost, while others wanted cheap board — ''plain living and high thinking." 

"After the old boarding hall burned in 1876," the Speculum reports, 
"the College authorities were ready for a change, and the students were 
anxioue to try their hand at housekeeping. Professor R. C. Carpenter 
spent a winter in Ann Arbor and saw the working of the club-boarding 
system for students where every student could find the club that suited 
him both as to cost and quality. Professor Carpenter presented so bright 
a picture of the advantages of the club-boarding system — better food and 
at less cost, and no need of worry and anxiety of the College authorities — 
that the plan was adopted. Assisted by H. W. Collingwood and with the 
advice of a committee of the faculty. Professor Carpenter engineered this 
new departure in social life at the College. Perhaps no single change in 
management ever did more to remove constant friction in college life or 
contributed more to the comfort of all than the inaugurating of the club- 
boarding system at the College." 

In 1906 four boarding Clubs A, B, E, G, became incorporated for business. 
They hired a purchasing agent who also buys for Club D, and for the girls 
in the Womans Building known as Club C. Each of the incorporated 
clubs elects a director; Secretary A. M. Brown is treasurer. A student in 
each club keeps accounts of the boarders and collects the bills for board. 
Experience in the past tends to improvements. The plan in 1913 works 
satisfactorily. 

"Each club has one cook and several helpers. In the boys' clubs waiters 
are selected from among the students and receive their board as compensation. 
One waiter waits upon 25 to 40 persons. Opportunity for students to work 
for their board is seldom ever open to first year men, as the older ones have 
always spoken for a place ahead. With the girls it is all different. The 
girls take turns in waiting on table and receive instructions as a part of their 
education." 

The College Band. 
From the Junior Annual for 1912. 

"The College band is strictly of a military nature, being a part of the 
College cadet regiment and directly under the supervision of the military 
department. It is organized along the same lines as the regular army bands. 

"The military duties of the band are much the same as those of the other 
companies. During the fall and winter terms the rehearsals must be held 
three times a week at the regular drill hour, and during the spring term the 
band turns out on the drill ground to lead the regimental parades. 

"In addition to the military work, however, the band is active in many 
phases of college life. A college celebration, athletic event, mass meeting, 
or even social function, is now incomplete without the band; and in co- 
operation with the rooters, it is instrumental in stirring up real live college 
spirit. As a concert organization, it has gained an enviable reputation 
within the last few years and ranks as one of the best college bands in the 
country. Professor Arthur J. Clark has directed the band for the past 
six years, (1913) and during that time the organization has steadily and 
rapidly progressed, until now the best standard compositions, as well as 
the lighter popular selections, appear upon its programs." 

A College Band has existed ever since the appointment of the first pro- 



218 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

fessor of military tactics in 1884, gradually becoming better as the students 
increased is numbers and the leader became more proficient. The best of 
all of them is I'rofessor A. J. ('lark in 1913 with a force of fifty-one men. 
The band has given sacred concerts in the Armory Sunday afternoons. 
With the he!]) of Professor E. S. King, they have made a tour of the state 
during the Christmas recess, giving (;oncerts which have been well received. 
They have accompanied the football teams to games in Ann Arbor, Columbus, 
Madison and other places. 

Student Council or Union. 

On March 24, 1908, The M. A. C. Record reports: 

"Perhaps the largest mass meeting held at M. A. C. in a number of years 
was that in the chajiel I'riday night for the ])urpose of organizing a student 
union and adopting a code of rules which will be the criterion for the future 
guidance of all classes, and settlement of matters which concern the student 
body. The majority of the rules nu-onunended by the committee from the 
upper classes consisting of Messrs. Barden, O'Gara, Grazer, Boyd, Lemmon 
and DcCamp were adopted as follows: 

"1, That for the future settlement of all class matters and the main- 
tenance of the college customs and traditions at M. A. C. a students' union 
be formed, to consist of three seniors, two juniors and one sophomore to be 
elected by the classes named in the first week of each fall term; the officers 
to be a senior i)resident and a junior secretary. 

"2. Each and every freshman and sub-freshman shall wear at all times 
during the fall and spring terms, ex('ei)t on Sundays, a cap of the following 
description. For the fr(>shmen, an oHicial brown cap with a small vizor 
and a gray button. For sub-freshmen, a similar gray cap with a black button. 
They shall not at any time while in college wear a pin representing their 
preparatory school in any manner, nor shall they wear any emblem or in- 
signia of that institution. 

"3 No student shall be allowed to loaf around the college barber shop. 

"4. All students shall show their respect to college professors whom they 
know by tip])ing their hats. 

"5. Only seniors may wear stiff hats about the campus. 

"6. A time-honored tradition at M. A. C. is that no student shall smoke 
on the campus. 

"7. Students' night shall be the last Thursday night of the spring term 
when a celebration in the form of a night shirt ])aradc shall be held under 
the su])ervision of the junior class. On this night, at which time the freshmen 
and sub-freshmen caps may be burned, all classes participate in this cele- 
bration. 

"8. Commencement week shall be known as senior week. 

"9. Class numerals can be worn only by members of its football, base 
ball, basket ball or track team or by members who have earned a i)osition 
on the first or second varsity teams and then only when those numerals 
have been awarded by the Athletic Council ui)on recommendation of the class. 

" 10. The most important social function of the college course is the 
Junior Hop given by the class during the winter term of its junior year. 

" 11. There is no hazing. Occasionally some individual first year man is 
made to feel that one can know too much from the start, but hazing is severely 
condemned as a general practice. 

" 12. The old class rushes have been abolished and the organized rush 
on the second Saturday of the fall term substituted." 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 219 

At a meeting of the Student Council held on Friday, June 12, 1908, the 
business of the year was finished and recommendations drawn up for the 
use of the succeeding council: 

"While the council has accomplished no startling results, the work of 
the term has been a signal success. We look forward with confidence to 
the time when this organization can be made an effective instrument in the 
hands of the student body. 

"With regard to the present regulations and customs we may say that the 
spirit in which they have been received and carried out is highly satisfactory. 
The idea of a college periodical edited and managed by students, was also 
taken up. 

"As promiscuous advertising is unsightly the council recommends the 
placing of large billboards in conspicuous places. This is being done, and 
in return we recommend that all advertising by students be confined to these 
b(Jards. 

"To make the observance of 'student night' more formal and impressive, 
a large banner has been made which is to be hantU^l down with appropriate 
ceremony from year to year by the outgoing senior class to the keeping of 
their successors. This ceremony will mark the passing of the senior class 
from college activities. The burning of the freshman and 'prep' caps will 
be in charge of those classes." Many other colleges and universities have 
adopted similar plans to help regulate the conduct of students. 

In the Record for November 10, 1908, appears a criticism by the father 
of a freshman on the rules of the council: 

"It seems to me that your class rules are not altogether on American 
principles. The council has no delegates from the freshman class, yet it 
lays down rules that the latter nuist follow. This is taxation (or government) 
without representation. If the council had four seniore, three juniors, two 
sophomores, and one freshman, the deal would be a fairer one, and in all 
probability the freshmen would acquiesce more readily to the rules, under 
the theory that the minority should be content to submit to the majority, 
except in cases of clear injustice, when they would have the inherent right 
to resist. A college in America ought to be a little republic, with fair repre- 
sentation in all matters for all students." 

Some of the rules of the student council smack too much of the rules 
in vogue in Rugby and Oxford, I^nglaud. It is a wonder that rebellions are 
not more numerous and more serious. 

It is by no means c(M-tain that this record of societies is complete. From 
time to time in S(>ason of i)residential cami)aign there were, for a few weeks, 
usually a Republican Club, a Democrati(; (Hub, a Prohibition Clul). 

As the College becomes larger, there will be still more clubs some of which 
will endure and some of which will thrive only during the presence of a certain 
professor, becoming inoperative as soon as he leaves the College. 

ATHLETICS. 

"In 1857," writes C. J. Monroe "Our sports were mainly of the country 
sort, 'one' and 'two-old-cat' ball games, 'running, hoi)-step-an(l-jump,' 
'l)om-])()m pull away,' 'tag,' and 'leapfrog.' Some of them were not very 
dignified; still there were no smashed noses, cracked heads, maimed limbs, 
nor any killing." 

In April, 1882, The Speculum contains the following: 

"Why can we not form a college athletic association? The matter has 



220 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

been discussed for some time. Why should we be behind other colleges in 
this respect? At present our sports are confined to an occasional 'scrub' 
game of base ball, or to a miscellaneous kicking at the football. Why cannot 
the energy displayed in these games be organized and improved?" 

Previous to 1910, the following students had each had a leg or foot broken 
playing baseball or football: C. I. Goodwin, '77; D. J. Stryker, '85; E. E. 
Vance, '84; J. C. Stafford, '88; C. B. ColHngwood, '84. How many heads, 
noses and collarbones were hit hard, how many fingers and thumbs knocked 
out of shape, we have no record. 

On May, 1895, Hon. Charles W. Garfield in speaking of athletics said: 
"College athletics is a germ disease, and we must inoculate it with something 
that will develop a mild type of the same thing and not so fatal." 

From a youth at the College, often playing one-old cat in an improvised 
game. Professor F. S. Kedzie has kept note of the progress of games on the 
campus. He observes: 

"The home plate has travelled a good deal, being located back in the 
seventies just north of Williams, then east to where the library stands, then 
north to Howard Terrace, thence westward to the drill ground — thence to 
the field on the flats across the river." 

As students increased in number, the parade ground west of the armory 
became too small for "the sports" and the assembled "rooters;" besides it 
interfered with the military drill of students. Sometime in 1900, a field 
of thirteen acres on the flats south of the river below the president's house 
was purchased, where the grand stand and bleachers have been erected and 
other improvements made. Sometimes a freshet interferes with the games; 
but otherwise the ground is very fine. To get to the field from the campus, 
a good road and substantial bridge have been constructed. 

ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. 

On October, 1886, the management of athletics was entirely changed. 
An organization was effected governed by a set of rules and Professor R. C. 
Carpenter was chosen manager. 

This is a students' association, which with the advice of the faculty and 
its committee, has control of all college athletics, consisting of base ball, 
football, basket ball, tennis, track events, wrestling, cross-country runs, 
indoor events, field days, distribution of decorated sweaters, invention of 
yells, the adoption and coining of sporting words and phrases. 

The following is found in the Junior Annual, class of 1901: 

"Athletics have been carried on to a limited extent here, since the College 
was established; but not until '82 were they recognized to be of sufficient 
importance to demand attention. In the spring of this year the subject of 
athletic contests was discussed; but the first local field day was not held 
until June, '84, the only recorded events being wrestling, throwing 35-pound 
weight, running jump, 100 yard dash, high kick, broad jump, and a con- 
test called tug of war. Base ball was the leading attraction at that time, 
it being carried on from early spring until late in the fall. Local field 
days were held at such times as were convenient, until '86 when the three 
colleges, Olivet, Albion and M. A. C. united and held contests together, 
the first one being at M. A. C, May 14, and 15, 1886. 

"A little later, Hillsdale applied for admission to the contests. This 
led to another difficulty, which was, too many field days a year; for it had 
been the custom to have a field day at each place each year. The idea was 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 



221 



then suggested of having but one annual inter-collegiate contest. As a 
result representatives from these four colleges met at Albion, March 24, 
1888, drew up the constitution and organized what was for a time the 
Michigan Inter-Collegiate Athletic Association. 

"The first annual field day of the M. I. A. A. was held at M. A. C. May 
31, June 1 and 2, 1888. The eve of the 2nd found the success of M. A. C.'s 
athletic career established; the most successful athlete being Leander Burnett, 
who won first honors in a number of track events and played on the ball team, 

" Ypsilanti was admitted to the association in 1889, and with the admission 
of Kalamazoo in 1894 and Adrian in 1900 the association in 1901 contained 
seven colleges. 

"Since 1896 M. A. C. has stood far in advance of any other college of the 
M. I. A. A. in track athletics." 

The first person named in the college catalogue as having anything es- 
pecially to do with the athletics of the young men is Charles 0. Bemies, 
Director of Physical Culture, serving from 1899-1900. Then appears George 




Grand stand and a portion of the bleachers. 

E. Denman 1901-1902; to be succeeded by Chester L. Brewer 1903-1908, 
his title changing to Professor of Physical Culture and Director of Athletics 
1908-'10. Next appears the name of John D. Macklin 1910 — Professor 
of Physical Culture and Director of Athletics. 



Foot Ball. 

After a winning game the students spare no pains in demonstration such 
as a parade in the streets of Lansing, bonfires on the campus, or a banquet 
at the close of a season, at which details of victories are rehearsed. Witness 
the notes of one report December 11, 1908. 

"Never before did an M. A. C. team go through an entire season without 
meeting defeat, and seldom has any college team played institutions ranking 
with Michigan, Wabash and DePau and kept its goal line clear." 

"The largest score registered in a single game was 58 on the Reserves, 
and the largest on a college team was made in the game with the Michigan 
State School for the Deaf, when M. A. C. scored a total of 51 points. 



222 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"With the exception of Frazer's broken fingers not a serious injury was 
received ckn-ing the entire season. 

"The most noticeable defeat of the season was the woeful lack of student 
spirit. At times when every person connected with the College should have 
been down on the bleachers, many of the students could be found at the 
roller rink or other down town places of amusement. 

"The rooting at mass meetings, held for the purpose of getting good 
fighting spirit into the team, was most indifferent and w^ak, and did not 
represent one-half of what could be done if everybody had done his share of 
the rooting. 

"We've got a bunch of good yells and songs and with the whole student 
body assisting a class of systematic cheering could be established here which 
should not be surpassed by colleges three and four times our size. 

"The banquet will be given in Wells Hall, and covers are to be laid for 
250. Coach Brewer will act as toastmaster, and the following toasts will be 
responded to: H. K. Vedder, 17 years of football; Capt. Shedd, Season and 
Team 1908; Capt. elect McKenna, Prospects for 1909; C. J. Oviatt, for the 
OHve Green; Prof. G. W. Bissell, Athletics and Engineering; Prof. F. S. 
King, Inferences." 

THE FIRST COLLEGE YELLS. 

The first college yell was invented, formed and adopted in 1889 and the 
spelling looks like this: "Uzz, Uzz, Uzz, M. A. C." The yells since adopted 
by different classes and for different occasions are extremely numerous and 
all cannot now be enumerated. I. B. Bates, '87, was the chief architect of 
this first product. Here is a choice "bunch" from the Junior Annual of '05: 

Rah! Rah! Rah! Rat-ata-thrat ! ta-thrat! to-thrat! 

Uzz! Uzz! Uzz! Terrors to lick! to hck! to lick! 

M. A. C. Kick-a-ba-ba, Kick-a-ba-ba, 

M. A. C! M. A. C! RAH! RAH! RAH! 

Osky wow wow! 

Shinny wow wow! Yah Ha! Yah Ha! Hah Ha! Ha! Ha! 

Skinny wow wow! M. A. C! M. A. C! Rah! Rah! Rah! 

Wow! Wow! Wow! 

Who can? Rah! Rah! Rah! 

What can? Rah! Rah! Rah! 

Can can? Rah! Rah! Rah! 

We Rubes can. Tiger. 

Hoop-la-ha to Hoop-le-he! 

Walk up! Chalk up! M. A. C. 

Still others found in the M. A. C. Record for May 22, 1900. 

Je hah! Je hah! Je hah, hah, hah! 
M. A. C! M. A. C! Rah, Rah, Rah! 

Hully Balloo, baloly, balee! 
Hoop la hah! Hoop la he! 
Walk up! Chalk up! M. A. C. 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 223 

Chick a go runk! go runk! go riink! 
Hi, yi, rickety,. rah de roo! 
Depa la rah! Repa la roo! 
Ch' bim, ch' boom! ch' bim boom bee! 
I yell! I yell! for M. A. C. 

With such a bewildering assortment, surely no student need hesitate 
selecting M. A. C. because the yell isn't well suited to his voice. 

With those named above and others not here reported, the association 
is not yet satisfied. From the M. A. C. Record of May 3, 1904, note the 
following: 

"A prize of $3 will be given for the best yell handed in on or before May 
9th, 1904. A second prize of $2 and a third of $1 will also be given. The 
competition is free to all." 

In his report for 1908, Director C. L. Brewer speaks of attempting to 
interest as large a number as possible in wholesome recreation, whether 
students or faculty or others. The work is seriously curtailed for lack of 
a gymnasium and no regular time available, however, work with Indian 
clubs, dumb-bells, bar-bells, free arm and breathing exercises were offered, 
also exercises in hand-ball, fencing, wrestling, tumbling. 

"The third annual interscholastic meet drew to the athletic field twenty- 
nine high schools of the state." 

To learn that the attention to athletics at M. A. C. is on the increase, one 
has only to read the Wolverine of the Juniors of 1912. We are led to infer 
that there is nothing like it; nothing in college is of so much importance. 
The teacher of athletics — Brewer — was lauded beyond any other man ever 
connected with the College. 

"A history of athletics at M. A. C. in the past ten years may be said to 
be a history of Brewer; and may be roughly divided into two periods — - 
before Brewer and while Brewer was here. 

"As to the period before Brewer, little need be said. A glance at the 
football scores for the year 1902 will suffice as an example. 

"In 1904 our baseball team won a championship title by virtue of its 
victories over the Universities of Wisconsin and Toronto. Our greatest 
triumph, however, has been in football. For no less than eight successive 
years we have upheld the record of 'no defeat on the home field.' 

"Each year games with stronger and stronger teams have been scheduled, 
but never (1910) has College field witnessed a defeat in football; even the 
U. of M. failing to defeat us when they played on the home field in 1909. 
A total of 1,918 points to our opponents' 234 is the record of football scores 
under Brewer. 

"It was Brewer, the man, who has instilled into players and rooters that 
'Never say die' spirit and that fair play which has urged to victory our great 
teams of the past few years. It was Brewer, the man, who constantly 
kept before us an ideal of what true athletic spirit is; he has taught us the 
real meaning of those words, 'a good loser.' Those who heard Brewer speak 
at mass meetings will remember his words before the 1909 Notre Dame 
game, when he said, 'Boys, we're going to show them that we have a great 
team. That team of ours is going in to fight to the last ditch. We may 
lose; but win or lose, let's show that M. A. C. has the cleanest, finest and 
most gentlemanly bunch of sportsmen that they have ever played against. 
Be game — and treat the other fellow right.' And the school followed his 



224 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

advice, showing the people of South Bend and Notre Dame what real en- 
thusiastic rooting and support is like. 

"We have much to thank Brewer for, but by far the most important thing 
is that spirit- — the spirit that puts every man behind his team, makes every 
man cheer, while his voice lasts, for the team and school, no matter if they 
are defeated, and makes every one remember that, win or lose, M. A. C. 
is game to the core." 

Professor Brewer inaugurated the plan of having some of the high schools 
of the state hold in May each year, an interscholastic track and field meet. 
He also induced some societies at M. A. C. to contest for a silver cup, the 
winning society to hold the cup one year; the society winning any three 
years to have permanent possession. The Hesperians won permanent 
possession in 1913. 

The circumstances under which Professor Macklin, or Coach as he prefers 
it, came to M. A. C. could have been more favorable. There was a vague 
feehng that the man did not exist who could fill Brewer's place, either as a 
coach or as a personal friend. It was rumored that eastern coaches were 
brutes, merciless drivers of men, without feeling and without sentiment. 
Macklin was received warmly enough, but there was a subtle sense of judg- 
ment reserved, waiting to witness results. 

Mr. Macklin proceeded at once to obtain results. No cruel system of 
driving appeared; he failed to play the brute; he studied the individual and 
acted accordingly. Without ostentation or display he took up Brewer's 
work where Brewer left off. There has been no halt, no slipjoing backward. 
Under his direction M. A. C. has steadily risen in the western athletic world, 
until she is just ready to take a place with the best. 

Brewer laid the foundation and laid it well. His memory will always 
remain fresh in the minds and hearts of those who knew him. But to John 
Farrell Macklin must be given credit, not only for keeping the Green and 
White prominently on the athletic map, but for advancing its position to 
the very forefront. The judgment that was reserved is now given freely. 

With some help of assistant coaches, MackHn's chief duties are to train 
a few students in the autumn for football ; a few more for basketball in winter 
and a generous number for baseball in the spring; to encourage practice of 
others in various games including track events and not least, to stimulate 
by all honorable means, as many rooters as possible. 

Who dare say that athletics is not already getting away with courses of 
study beyond its merits? 

Observing the popularity of Professor Brewer above all others, I am re- 
minded of a statement concerning Ralph W. Emerson when he was one of 
the trustees of Harvard University. He was troubled, a little, in noticing 
that Agassiz was making a good deal of stir with natural history and he 
wondered whether he ought not in some way to be curtailed. He was silenced 
by Agassiz's rejoinder, "You ought not to check my efforts in zoology, but 
strive to make the work of all others better." The cases however are not 
parallel. 

ADVANTAGES OF ATHLETICS IN COLLEGE. 

They give opportunity for many students to work off surplus steam out" 
doors and in assemblies instead of in dormitories and at unseasonable hours. 

They stimulate a small portion of students to practice, often with the 
hope of getting into a team. 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 225 

They increase considerably the opportunities for a student to win some 
victory to mention in the Junior Annual or to talk about among his friends. 

Since there are so many elective studies, and the number of students has 
increased so largely, the "class spirit" in most colleges is declining. 

Athletics, if skillfully managed, may become a strong force for a clean 
moral hfe. President E. F. Nichols of Dartmouth in 1909, said ''Inter- 
collegiate sports do more to unite the whole college and give it a sense of 
solidarity than any other undergraduate activity, and thus serve a worthy 
purpose." 

Aristocracy cuts no figure in athletics — can a man play well? If so, he 
will be welcomed to the team whether Indian, Negro, Italian or Japanese. 

If it is right to give awards to the man winning in a game, it certainly is 
right to give awards for a hundred other things that can be named. Here 
are a few: the best work in each and every term of each class in college, 
whether text book or laboratory; debates, orations, disquisitions, disserta- 
tions, stories; best drawing, lettering, best shde in plant anatomy, or zoology, 
plans for planting about a dwelling, or a home farm, taking up and laying 
sods, proper use of a scythe, or seeder, shearing sheep, plowing, marking out 
ground for rows. 

So far as athletics serves to advertise for more students, it attracts those 
inchned to sports rather than those who go to college for mental profit. 

OBJECTION TO ATHLETICS AS USUALLY CONDUCTED IN COLLEGE. 

The trainer selects one-twentieth to one-fortieth part of the students for 
his teams, paying little or no attention to the other nineteen-twentieths — 
thirty-nine-fortieths, except to induce them to pay fees and come out to the 
games as rooters, and show "college spirit." 

Especial training is given to those who scarcely need it, as such men would 
practice enough of their own accord. 

The time given to practice at the college and with other colleges is much 
in excess of the needs of good students. 

A large majority of members of the teams while in training drop in rank 
unless they take less than a full quota of studies. 

Undue attention is given to the importance of winning games, for this 
enhances the reputation of the trainer. 

The exercise is too violent, not infrequently dangerous, especially in foot- 
ball, foot races and rowing. 

Athletes are unduly stimulated by their associates and the newspapers 
to overestimate their enormous importance. 

Awards by way of conspicuous articles of dress, badges, etc., are given 
to winners, while nothing of the sort at M. A. C. is awarded worthy students 
for successful effort. 

Strenuous efforts are often made to win games by unfair means — by 
cheating if necessary to win. 

The enthusiasm of the crowd encourages students to bet on the results. 

Success in sports advertises the college by drawing an increasing per cent 
of athletes, instead of brainy young persons for success in the class room 
and laboratory. 

A small young college is likely to permit athletics to gain momentum 
with increasing attendance and become more excessive in this direction. 

The following is from Luther H. Guhck, in the Outlook: July 15, 1911: 

^'To summarize: It is, then, faUacious to attempt to advocate inter- 
29 



226 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

collegiate athletics on the basis of benefit to the individual, because less 
than ten per cent of the students are directly affected; these ten per cent 
are the ones who least need this activity; the amount of time and effort de- 
manded for these sports is in excess of what the individual should give; as 
well as because no evidence has as yet been presented which shows that 
these particular men have been benefited in health, strength, and vitality 
because of having taken part in these athletic sports. 

"These objections and chfficulties that have been presented are genuine 
and real. They are being recognized by many of our most thoughtful and 
able observers in America, men who are intimately connected with our large 
institutions of learning, and who are in a position to see the effects upon 
the individual athletes. On the ground of benefit to the individual, there 
can be no defense of these athletics." 

Arlo Bates, a professor in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 
the Forum for May, 1901, says: 

"It is the general experience at the Institute of Technology that a boy's 
work suffers if he goes deeply into athletics. A student in a technical school 
of high grade, in order to attain to success, must not only attend to his 
studies, but give to them the very first place in his interest. 

"This unfortunate condition of things is more firmly established by the 
class of students attracted to college by the fame of athletic victories. In 
so far as a college is not responsible for such students, it suffers a misfortune 
in their coming. 

"I cannot refrain from closing with the dehberate expression of the con- 
viction that athletics is in education today the most serious obstacle to the 
advancement of intellectual growth." 

Dr. James Chapman, President of the Southlands Training College of 
London, is quoted in the Michigan Alumnus for April, 1913, as saying to 
some of the Professors at the University at the close of his questions on 
athletics : 

"I have no patience with your American athletics. You are all wrong. 
You are debasing the bodies and morals of your students by training a few 
for these great gladiatorial shows, while the great mass of students simply 
look on and applaud. In England the aim is to develop every boy into full 
possession of all his physical power, and not to overtrain a few for the en- 
tertainment and amusement of crowds. Public opinion in England forces 
every boy in our schools to engage in some form of healthful sport or to 
receive the humiliating appelation of 'dub.' " 

The editor of the Alumnus adds: 

"This is severe but true. There is some comfort in the fact that we are 
coming to know it." 

October 12, 1912, Dr. T. C. Blaisdell, President of Alma College, said: 
"Today athletics, social affairs and other outside interests receive too much 
attention." 

The Editor of the Holcad for January 14th, 1913, says: "Life has lots 
more in it than Bijous and parties and J Hops. There are many things 
worth while, though they may not be 'stunning.' " 

The reader will excuse these lengthy remarks concerning athletics. Let 
us hear from Professor Macklin: 

"Excellence in outdoor sports has been attained through the ability to 
make the most of the facilities provided, which are good; but in indoor 
work, the lack of a gymnasium has for some time, proved a decided handi- 
cap. It would be a great improvement could M. A. C. be provided with a 



ORGANIZATIONS, MOSTLY BY STUDENTS. 227 

means by which every student could be given systematic physical training. 
At the present time, everybody in the institution has the opportunity to 
take advantage of the work which the Athletic department is doing. Natural - 
ly it is a difficult matter to handle the situation where a youth comes to us 
undeveloped. The boy who shows the slightest inclination receives as 
much help as the department can give, in the way of advice; but it is a hard 
matter to make the work interesting in a building such as our present Armory. 

''I understand perfectly the various phases of athletics in the life of a 
college man, and as a result, I wish to explain the ideas that occur to me, 
aside from the curriculum of any college. 

''Men in athletics too often get the idea that when they have a share 
in the winning of an important contest they may have and may do anything 
they wish to do. Public opinion may be lenient with the victorious athlete, 
but the inward satisfaction which comes from self-control, which comes 
from being a man from start to finish, whatever else may happen, is of far 
greater value than any pubHc leniency. 

''The college team, or college crowd which can carry with it through 
victory or defeat the true sporting spirit of give and take, fair play under all 
circumstances and courteous treatment of visitors, is the one admired the 
world over and the one most likely to play a hard game and show real college 
spirit. 

"Yet, victory is often harder to carry than defeat. You may win uni- 
versal respect by the way you win a game, only to lose this respect by the 
way you conduct yourself afterward. 

"A man may be a good athlete, and still be a perfect gentleman, a splendid 
scholar and a sincere Christian— and he ought to be. Such men are in 
demand in college and out. 

"At M. A. C. we do our utmost in athletics, to develop strength of char- 
acter, to make a real man out of each and every individual with whom we 
come in contact." 

Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, President of the Carnegie Foundation, who has 
studied most of the nine hundred colleges in the United States, in his ad- 
dress at the Commencement of Bryn Mawr College, June, 1914, named the 
leading thing which he believed hindered the progress of the College, two of 
which are: 

"The President and the Board are swayed by the all-absorbing lust for 
numbers. 

"The most injurious of these hindrances are intercollegiate athletics 
whose overshadowing importance has affected not only the intellectual life 
but the moral and social life as well." 



228 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE GRANGE. 



We have seen that from its origin in 1849 the executive committee of 
the State Agricultural Society took a leading part in establishing the Michi- 
gan Agricultural College, and all along through its darkest days from 1857 
to the semi-centennial and ever since that event, these men and their suc- 
cessors have never faltered in their interest and active support. Their 
numbers were small, their meetings were infrequent. 

Of all organizations that have existed since 1875, none have given the 
encouragement and support that have come from the State Grange. J. J. 
Woodman, master of the State Grange in 1876 stated: 

"Michigan led the van in establishing a college for the higher education 
of farmers' sons. This was a new departure, a step in advance of the age, 
and like this organization, met with opposition, laughter, and derision. 

***** Pqj, years it was opposed by some of the best educators 
of the state, who lent their influence to destroy it. Yet in spite of opposi- 
tion and unfriendly legislation, it struggled on, and farmers' boys felled the 
trees, split the rails, laid the fence, dug the ditches, ploughed the soil, and 
at the same time prosecuted their studies, and graduated with honors. 

"Identified as this institution is with the interests of education and agri- 
culture, I cannot refrain from again calling your attention to the importance 
of using all laudable means through the influence of our organization to 
popularize the college with the farmers of the state, and make it a school 
where not only our sons, but our daughters, can obtain a thorough and 
practical education of a high order, and at a reasonable expcr^e. That 
the failure of the legislature to make the necessary appropriations for paying 
the professors reasonable salaries, and providing further and better ac- 
commodations for young ladies, has resulted in serious injury to the best 
interests and very existence of the College. 

"The subject of education was fully and ably discussed in the National 
Grange, and agricultural colleges, experimental farms, schools of technology, 
and agricultural chemistry endorsed, and a liberal public policy recom- 
mended towards them. It was also the sense of the National Grange that 
the rudiments of practical agriculture be introduced and taught in the pubhc 
schools; all of which I fully endorse and submit for your consideration." 

Who was Jonathan J. Woodman? For twelve years he was a member 
of the legislature, and for six years Speaker of the House. Here he did 
yeoman service for the College, in selecting committees in urging hberal 
appropriations. He soon became Master of the National Grange, where 
he was a leader in encouraging the support of agricultural colleges throughout 
the United States. 

As master of the State Grange in 1880, C. G. Luce said: 

"I cannot close this reference to the College without calling your attention 
to the fact that while ample provisions are made by the state for the ac- 
commodation of ladies at our state university, yet they are practically 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE GRANGE. 229 

excluded from the College for want of suitable accommodations. Our sons 
and daughters are reared and educated together in the family, the common 
school, the high school, university, and denominational institutions every- 
where, and can anyone give a valid reason why provisions should not be 
made for farmers' daughters at the College, as well as for their sons? This 
question demands your serious attention." 
In 1881, State Master Luce said: 

"We must never forget that, in the language of another, 'The crowning 
glory of all our work as an Order is to educate and elevate the American 
farmer.' This is our right, nay more, it is our imperative duty. Upon the 
proper discharge of this duty our future as an order depends. Whatever 
else we may do, our chief reliance is upon this. Education is the corner 
stone." 

Mr. Luce, Master in 1885 said: . . 

"Education is an old subject, very old, yet in some of its features it is 
always new. Upon it depends our future as an Order, and upon a proper 
education depends our future as a people. It furnishes the anchor for all 
of our hopes. We must educate, educate, educate. But the honest critic 
or inquirer will possibly ask, what has this to do with the Grange? We 
answer, it has all to do with it. It stands out pre-eminently as the educator 
of its members. If it fails to do this, it fails in its highest and holiest mis- 
sion. This is the rock upon which we stand." 

Mr. Thomas Mars, Master of the Michigan State Grange in 1892 stated: 
"Our organization is a unit in their advocacy of our Agricultural College 
and its grand work, and woe be unto the legislature that attempts to make 
it a part of the University, or to take from it one single feature of its use- 
fulness. We will hail with delight and honor any legislature that will 
make appropriations sufficient to enlarge its usefulness, by providing ample 
provisions for the admission of the girls on an equal footing with the boys.' 
Mr. G. B. Horton, Master of the Michigan State Grange in 1893 said: 
"Our Agricultural College is the farmers' special school. Its line of 
studies is calculated for practical application to the business of farming 
and intelligent agriculture. Every farmer's son who seeks preparation past 
the common district school should attend the Agricultural College. Farmers 
should stand by the Agricultural College and see that it is as well provided 
for as any of the special schools under state control." 
In 1896 Mr. Horton as Master of the State Grange said: 
"No general annual report to the State Grange would be complete if it 
did not call the attention of the delegates to the importance of this, the 
farmers' school. The State Board of Agriculture, from earnest desires and 
long experience, are striving, as I believe never before, to make this in- 
stitution meet the true wants of the farmers of the state, in supplying their 
sons and daughters with practical and helpful education." 
In 1899 Master Horton said: 

"As we look back over the history of the Grange in Michigan and recall 
the stand it has taken for many worthy objects, there is no part of that 
record which adds more honor than its continual support of the Agricultural 
College. With this the College has been benefited also, for it was the Grange 
that first gave public announcement to most of the changes and innovations 
which have kept the College well to the front among others of its kind m the 
United States." 

Throughout his service as Master of the State Grange for sixteen years, 



230 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE!. 

Mr. Horton never forgot to speak and act in behalf of the College. He 
graduated both of his boys at that institution. 

Note the reference of Mr. Horton in 1899 to the fact that the grange first 
gave public announcement to most of the changes and innovations which 
have kept the College well to the front. 

N. P. Hull, a former student of this College was Master of the State Grange 
for four years and he said many good words for the institution. 

John C. Ketchum was elected Master of the State Grange, December, 
1912, and is as loyal as any of his predecessors. 

The grange has been more aggressive than members of the Board of Agri- 
culture, even more progressive than some of the presidents of the College. 

In 1893, while K. L. Butterfield (in 1907-'ll, the able president of the 
Massachusetts Agricultural College) was editor of the Grange Visitor, as 
chairman of a committee of the State Grange he sent out one hundred thir- 
ty-nine letters of inquiry to a select list of persons, including farmers, grad- 
uates of the College who were farmers, county commissioners of schools, 
granges and farmers' clubs. 

The replies were too numerous and lengthy to be quoted here. I note 
a few: 

"Many think the course too long, too expensive and not sufficiently 
practical. 

"The reason that so few farmers' sons attend from the south part of the 
state is that the University and other colleges offer far greater range of 
courses for practical and scientific preparation for practical work, at less 
expense, near home, with better social surroundings, lectures, musicales, 
literary honors, and sanitary conditions." 

"The best known feature of recent years was the short term in dairying 
during the past winter. Its effect upon the general welfare of the College 
has been most marked. Let this be but a beginning of a system of short 
winter courses which will accommodate many who cannot take the longer and 
better full course." 

"The great prime cause of indifference is lack of realizing the necessity 
of such a training as is given at the College in order to get the most good 
from life. Too many machine farmers. The dollar is too often the standard 
for measuring the man." 

"I think people have lost interest because there has been so much squab- 
bling and changing about. When they get a good man there, they let some 
other college take him away. I think it might be a good plan to have more 
of our graduates on the Board. It would be a good plan to publish more 
about the College and its work. When I was in College ours stood at the 
head, — now it is behind a number of others." 

"I am certain, from my acquaintance in the county, that the University 
has drawn more farmers' sons in the last few years from this county than has 
the College. This is largely due to the times. Farming seems unprofitable." 

"Although the Grange would not claim to have done all that has been 
done for these advances, yet if anyone will take pains to look at the records 
of the State Grange for the last three years, he cannot help feeling that the 
Grange has been a most potent factor in inducing the College to take these 
progressive steps." 

"We ought to have the teaching of agriculture in our district schools. We 
cannot do more at this time than to call your attention to the report of your 
committee made before this Grange in 1894, and reiterated a year ago. We 
do not care to discuss this matter to any extent here, except to call your 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE GRANGE. 231 

attention especially to one point, and that is that we do not want a text book 
on agriculture in the district schools. What we want is first the creation 
among the farmers of sentiment which will demand the teaching of natural 
science in a plain way, — just simply teaching the pupils to observe the com- 
mon things around them, and carry this through from the beginning to the 
end of the pupil's education, taking illustrations directly from farm products 
and farm surroundings. We could do nothing worse than to introduce a 
text book on agriculture into our district schools. The next thing we need 
is for the College to supply a means whereby teachers can be fitted to teach 
nature studies in the chstrict schools." 

K. L. Butterfield continues: 

''Among all these efforts to unite the farming classes, by far the most 
characteristic and the most successful is the Grange. 

"It is more nearly a national farmers' organization than any other in 
existence today. 

"To enumerate the achievements of the Grange would be to recall the 
progress of agriculture during the past third of a century. 

"Almost without exception the Granges have praised the colleges, wel- 
comed their work, and urged farmers to educate their sons at these institu- 
tions. The Grange has always taught the need of better rural education." 

From its foundation the Grange has continued to urge: 

"Education is a companion which no misfortune can depress, no chance 
destroy, no energy alienate, no despotism enslave; an ornament in prosperity 
and a refuge in adversity." 

Another activity of the National Grange served, though more indirectly, 
in helping greatly the cause of agricultural education. This was its deter- 
mined fight through many years and in the face of derision to have agri- 
culture represented in the cabinet of the President. This was finally ac- 
complished in 1889 with the formal organization of the Department of Agri- 
culture. As a cabinet officer the suggestions of the Secretary of Agriculture 
reached the president and other members of the cabinet directly and had 
great weight in influencing recommendations for appropriations -for the 
College. Since that time the colleges and the department have worked 
strongly together, one influencing the other and both being encouraged by 
the Grange, the Farmers' Clubs, and other farmers' organizations. 

Think of the extraordinary progress made since 1889 in agricultural educa- 
tion! 

Secretary James Wilson at the semi-centennial among other good things 
said: "A grand work was the laying of the foundation of agricultural 
education and research to prepare the farmer for his life-work, establish 
agricultural literature, and lift the tiller of the soil to a higher level of effi- 
ciency as a producer and a citizen. No other country on earth has such a 
comprehensive system to bring about these results. 

"The work is telling in many ways. Young people go to these institutions 
who would not go to any other. There is a great demand at home and 
abroad for young people educated along these lines. The brightest farm 
boys and girls are being educated for the farm. It is the most delightful and 
comprehensive study of material things to which the mind can be applied. 

"One of the most praiseworthy lines of work being done at our agricultural 
colleges is the training of young women in what pertains to themselves and 
others, including domestic economy, sanitation, nutrition, ventilation, and 
correct living, resulting in the American girl, unique, unequaled, perfect." 



^32 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE^. 

*From the Experiment Station Record of April, 1911, I note: 

"The growth of the National Department of Agriculture during the past 
ten years has far exceeded that of all of its preceding history. This was 
pointed out by Hon. Charles F. Scott, chairman of the House Committee on 
agriculture, in submitting the new agricultural appropriation bill last winter. 

"As a full-fledged department with a cabinet minister at its head, the 
department dates only from 1889. 

"This year, 1910, the department has at its disposal $15,470,634.16. Ten 
years ago the total number of persons employed in the department was 3,388; 
this year, if all the rolls were called, an army of 12,480 men and women would 
respond. 

"Next year, 1911, provision is made for an even greater development. 
The aggregate amount carried by the act is $16,900,016. The amount ap- 
propriated each state and territory for experiments is included in this sum 
referred to. 

"There is an actual enlargement of the appropriations of every bureau, 
and a net increase of fully twenty per cent for the department as a whole. 

"The largest item included in this appropriation is $5,533,100 for the 
forest service. 

"This is a large sum, but as was pointed out by Chairman Scott in con- 
cluding the presentation of the bill, 'the money appropriated for the De- 
partment of Agriculture is an investment and not an expense. And that it 
has been a good investment the statistics showing the expansion of agri- 
culture and the improvement in methods throughout our country bear 
eloquent witness.' 

"The farmers of America are applying better methods and getting better 
results from their labors than ever before. And in devising these better 
methods, in pointing the way for better results, the Department of Agri- 
culture has been the undisputed leader." 

In 1912, the Department of Agriculture employed 13,858 persons and an 
appropriation of nearly $25,000,000. 

Dr. A. C. True of the Office of Experiment Stations, in his report for 
December, 1912, says: "From these small and uncertain beginnings, there 
has resulted in the period of fifty years since the Department of Agriculture 
was formally established an organization for the administration of laws, 
prosecution of research and the collection and dissemination of knowledge 
'The like of which is unknown in any other country or any other time.' " 

Dr. H. C. White says: "Economic agriculture has made greater progress 
in the last ten years than in all the years which went before." 

In his address at the celebration of the semi-centennial of Michigan Agri- 
cultural College, President Roosevelt used the following words concerning 
the work of the Department of Agriculture : 

"Of all the executive departments there is no other, not even the post- 
office, which comes into more direct and beneficent contact with the daily 
life of the people than the Department of Agriculture, and none whose yield 
of practical benefits is greater in the proportion to the public money ex- 
pended. 

"But great as its services have been in the past, the Department of Agri- 
culture has a still larger field of usefulness ahead. It has been dealing with 
growing crops. It must hereafter deal also with living men. Hitherto 
agricultural research, instruction, and agitation have been directed almost 

*A publication of the Department of Agriculture made prominent through the action of the Grange. 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE GRANGE. 233 

exclusively toward the production of wealth from the soil. It is time to 
adopt in addition a new point of view. Hereafter another great task before 
the National Department of Agriculture and the similar agencies of the 
various states must be to foster agriculture for its social results, or, in other 
words to assist in bringing about the best kind of life on the farm for the 
sake of producing the best kind of men." 

President Taft at the State Fair of New York in September, 1911, said: 

''The promotion of this movement of vocational education of the embryo 
farmer in the sons of the present farmer is as high a function as any govern- 
ment department could perform, and that is what is being pressed forward 
under the secretary of agriculture in every state in this nation. The voca- 
tional schools must be increased in every state. I am bound to say that I 
do not know any part of the government business in which the public will 
receive a more certain advantage than from money expended under the 
appropriation l^ills for the agricultural department of the United States." 

The writer hopes the reader fully realizes that the efforts of the grange 
led directly to important legislation in securing a secretary of agriculture 
and through him reached other secretaries of the cabinet and the president 
of the United States. 

We have seen that President Abbot in 1863 defined the objects of the 
Michigan Agricultural College as conceived by the founders, — a school of 
low grade to prepare boys to become better farmers. 

With the congressional land-grant the scope was widened to include in- 
struction in the mechanic arts, military tactics, scientific and classical studies. 
In 1886, the Hatch fund provided for one experiment station in every state 
to be located preferably in connection with the land-grant college; the Adam's 
act of 1906 provided additional means for conducting original research bearing 
directly on agriculture. 

And now, 56 years after the founding of the first agricultural college, 
appears the address of Dr. Davenport* giving a still broader view of these 
schools. 

I consider myself fortunate in being able to quote liberally from his ad- 
dress in 1911 to the graduating class, of Massachusetts Agricultural College, 
on "The Agricultural College — a Public Service Institution." He tells 
just what I want to say. 

"The agricultural college was established as a teaching institution of about 
high school grade; it has developed into an organization for research as well 
as instruction of the highest order. It was opened to teach boys the art of 
farming, but it has become a bureau of information in agricultural science 
accessible not only to students, but to men already engaged in the largest 
enterprises. It was designed, like other colleges of the time, to cater to 
the individual, but its great aim and purpose has come to be the development 
of agriculture as a profession and the improvement of the country as a place 
of residence. It was at first entirely technical; it has become exceedingly 
humanistic. Its original aim was utilitarian and selfish; its later purpose 
has been that of the broadest public service. In the beginning it was intended 

*Eugene Davenport was a farm boy of Barry County, Michigan, who graduated at the Agricultural 
College in 1878. He returned to the farm and liked it and was in all respects successful for ten years, 
when he returned to the College for more study and was soon selected Professor of Agriculture. Not 
long after he became president of a college in Brazil. In 189.5, he was chosen Dean of the Agricultural 
College in Illinois University, where the regular students in Agriculture could be counted on the fingers 
of one hand. At the end of 15 years there were nearly 1000 students under his general oversight 
including a department for women in home economics. Where is the person who dares say that Daven- 
port would have better remained on his farm instead of becoming a missionary in the cause of agri- 
culture in the great state of Illinois? 



234 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

for farmers only; in its fulfilment it exerts the widest usefulness upon all 
classes of people. In brief, the agricultural college has developed from a 
narrow technical school for individuals of a single class into a public service 
institution of the widest scope and the great magnitude. First of all, it is 
organized as an experiment station, with funds for research and publication 
nearly equal to those for instruction. The least of them has $30,000 of 
federal funds annually, and there are instances of no less than $1,000 a day 
for research alone for every w^orking day of the academic year. With such a 
system for investigation no item of interest can long escape attention, and 
no detail, whether of soil or crop or animal, or farm or house or home can 
evade the searching eye of the investigator or long maintain its secret; and 
for this great work men are now trained in the finest laboratories of the world. 
What other human interest is more richly endowed for progress? 

"The agricultural college in every state is also a lecture bureau, and its 
faculty are called upon to address any^vhere from 100 to 500 public meetings, 
depending upon the size of the state and its interest in agriculture. 

"In brief, the agricultural college is a center of expert advice. It has 
become a clearing-house of knowledge not only for all matters touching the 
lives and fortunes of country people, but for affairs generally affecting all 
classes of citizens so far as they and their lives are influenced by the present 
and prospective food supply and by the allurements and conditions of country 
life. In a word, the agricultural college has developed in the short space 
of half a generation from an insignificant secondary school for boys into a 
public service institution of the highest scientific and social significance. 
And in doing all of this it has not sacrificed its instruction, but, on the con- 
trary, it has developed scientific and practical courses along all phases of the 
agricultural profession and of country life, not only for under-gracluate, but 
for graduate students as well, and today no phase of graduate work in this 
country or abroad stands higher, either in aims or in facilities for work, 
than does graduate work in agriculture, especially in connection with the 
experiment station. 

"This is where the agricultural college differs from educ^ational institutions 
of the older order. Instead of aiming to benefit individuals only for personal 
advantage or satisfaction, it educates men in order to influence directly a 
whole profession, and indirectly the lives of half our people. Instead of 
seeking truth for truth's sake, it pursues it with the determination of under- 
standing principles and then of applying these principles directly to the 
development of human life. Because this information is applicable to 
business, the agricultural college has been accused of commercializing educa- 
tion, whatever that may be, but in the practical working out of its problems 
this new kind of college is quite unexpectedly proving to be intensely hu- 
manistic, more humanistic, indeed, than e > n the old-line institutions, be- 
cause its ultimate purpose is the raising of the general level of civilization, 
first by providing the means, then by arousing the instincts, and afterward 
by pointing the way to the community as a whole. 

"Its service aims not at the favored few, but at the commonwealth as a 
whole, and its influence is exerted not only along professional lines, but 
social and religious as well. The agricultural college is, in brief, a public 
service institution of the highest order. 

"Now, this fact carries some important corollaries and leads to some 
fundamental conclusions. First of all, the student bears a new relation to 
this kind of college. He and his interests are become the means to an end 
and not the end itself. If he is to be educated in this kind of college, it is 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE GRANGE. 235 

primarily for public reasons and not for private advantage. The public 
does not educate Smith in order that he may prey upon Jones — and Thomp- 
son and Schneider who do not or cannot go to college. The public educates 
Smith at its own expense in order not only that he may take care of himself 
and his, but that he shall do it without distressing others through his educa- 
tional advantage, which he might claim as his personal privilege if he had 
paid for it. Still further, this product of the state-supported college, Mr. 
Smith, must not only succeed without distressing his neighbor, but he is in 
duty bound to be ingenious and active in establishing and maintaining such 
wholesale conditions as shall enable Jones and Thompson and Schneider to 
be the better off because Smith was sent to college. 

"There is more interest, for example, in demonstration fields than there 
in experimental fields. It is possible at any time that some governor o 
leading legislator may fail to understand that the college land is an out-of- 
doors laboratory and not a model farm. He may assume that the buildings 
in which animals are kept are for that reason barns, and that they ought to be 
like farm barns, that they may be copied directly. The best friends of the 
institution may forget that its real business is invention and the discovery 
of principles and their apphcation, not the making of a collection of models 
which man may cart home and use without mental application. The public 
demands and will pay for the finished product, but it is hkely to be im- 
patient if not oblivious of the slow process of discovery. It puts a slight 
premium upon facility of expression as compared with accurateness and 
soundness of knowledge. It may wear out a faculty in making demands 
upon it and by its very patronage prevent its own recuperative powers. It 
may do all these things, but they are only evidences of interest. I am con- 
vinced that as the public settles down in its relation to these colleges, its 
demands will be reasonable and its support liberal. 

"In this connection we must remember that all service of this sort is 
enormously costly as compared with the old-time collegiate instruction, 
but the results are magnificent." 

The Farmers' Clubs have also, more recently, been of great assistance to 
the college, both in encouraging its work and in bringing pressure to bear on 
the legislature for appropriations. In his address as president of the State 
Association of Farmers' Clubs at the semi-centennial of the College, L. 
Whitney Watkins said : 

"Our organization has been from the first very closely associated with 
this institution. Six of the thirteen ex-presidents of the State Association 
of Farmers' Clubs are graduates of Michigan Agricultural College and of the 
remaming seven, three are the fathers of M. A. C. men. I think the pro- 
fessor of animal husbandry will tell you that this is a pretty good pedigree." 



236 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER XV. 



COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS. 



For the purposes of consideration here the pubhcations of the College 
are treated in two groups: first, the official college publications and second, 
student publications. 

I. OFFICIAL COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS. 

The reports of the College for the years 1857 to 1860 are to be found in 
the reports of the superintendent of public instruction. In 1861 there 
was no report separate from that of 1862. The reports for 1862 and 1863 
are to be found in the joint documents of the state for those years. 

REPORTS OF THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

The chief duties of this Board of Agriculture are to serve as the trustees 
of the College. The first published report of the Board appeared in one 
volume in 1862. The Board has published a volume every year since with 
the exception of 1881-82, when one report covers two years. Each of these 
volumes usually contains a financial report of the secretary and of the treas- 
urer; a report of the president of the College; a report of each member of 
the faculty; occasionally it contains acts of the legislature. In the volumes 
from 1875-1883 inclusive, are reports of a large number of experiments 
made by professors of the College, previously to the adoption of the policy 
of including numbered bulletins as a part of the reports. Volume 28 (1884) 
is the first to contain numl)ered bulletins. The reports contain papers per- 
taining to soils and crops, farm implements, resources of the state, domestic 
animals, injurious insects, injurious fungi, fruit growing, meteorology, for- 
estry, college exhibits at three world's fairs, state fairs and county fairs. 
The reports of farmers' institutes begin in 1875 and continue to 1890 in- 
clusive, when they are much abbreviated until 1894-95 when they disappear 
and are continued in separate volumes. 

The report of the secretary of the State Agricultural Society beginning 
in 1849 and continuing to 1856 inclusive contain much information con- 
cerning the origin of the Agricultural College. 

In 1909, a new classification of the pubhcations of the Experiment Station 
was adopted: 

"First, popular bulletins, embodying such publications as are of general 
interest to the farmers of the state, dealing, as they do, with ordinary prac- 
tices. These are sent out to the entire maihng list, which now (1913) com- 
prises about 65,000 names. 

"Second, special bulletins. This hst comprises those that are of local 
interest only, such, for instance, as sub-station reports, or other publications 
which deal with questions of interest only to people of a limited area. 

"Third, technical bulletins, consisting of the reports of scientific research 
work such as is carried on in connection with the Adams projects, and in 



COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS. 237 

some cases they are suited only for the use of men actually engaged in similar 
lines of work. They may also consist of reports of progress made in con- 
nection with research work. It is not believed that this class would be of 
interest to the farmer generally, but both technical and special publications 
can be secured, by all who desire to procure them, by addressing a card to 
the mailing department of the Experiment Station. 

"Fourth, circulars. This group consists of four to six page publications 
dealing with practical topics upon which there seems to be a general demand 
for information. In many instances this demand is determined through in- 
quiries which come to the various offices of the Experiment Station. The 
idea is to produce a brief, plain, simple, practical publication which will 
relate to one specific subject only, that may be directly helpful to the farmers. 

"Fifth, press bulletins. For several years the institution has been issuing 
from two to five hundred word articles to the press of the state. The object 
of this has been to disseminate information through the press to the farmers 
of the state, thereby getting it into their hands quickly in case of emergency 
as the demand may arise through special causes." 

THE COLLEGE CATALOGUE, 

The College has published a catalogue annually. Up to 1861, this was 
but a list of names. A catalogue in the form of a pamphlet for distribution 
has been published each year beginning 1861. Each succeeding catalogue 
gives much matter of a historical nature that need not be repeated in this 
connection, telling the purposes of the College, its equipment, its methods, 
its courses of study, its scope, the requirements for admission, the expenses 
of a student. 

ALUMNI CATALOGUE. 

A catalogue containing names of all officers and graduates was printed 
in each of the following years 
1873, 1876, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1888, 1911. 

GENERAL CATALOGUE. 

The first general catalogue containing names of all officers, all graduates 
and all non-graduates was published in 1900. Up to this time (1913) this 
is the only catalogue of the kind ever printed. 

farmers' INSTITUTE ANNUAL. 

A Michigan State Farmers' Institute has been published by the College 
every year since 1894. 

SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

A book of 377 pages containing the addresses delivered at the semi-cen- 
tennial celebration, together with letters of congratulation and other inter- 
esting papers was published by the College in 1897. 



238 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



II. STUDENT PUBLICATIONS. 
THE BUBBLE. 

Sometime in the spring of 1868 the members of a college society called 
the "Stoical Pen Yanker's Society" — (S. P. Y. S.) proposed and finally 
carried into effect a project for publishing a sheet designed mainly as an 
"escape valve" for the superfluous fun of the society. F. S. Burton was- 
chosen editor, and impelled by his vigorous "blowing" the Bubble soon 
sailed forth into a journalistic atmosphere, and its voyage was probably 
not less showy and sudden than would be that of its namesake. The first 
number was issued May 30, 1868, and was followed in the same year by 
issues on June 20, July 18, August 8, August 29th, September 9th and October 
24th. The contributions were mostly from members of the S. P. Y. S., 
namely, Chas. E. Bessey, F. S. Burton, Roswell LilUe, William D. Place 
and Clarence Simonson. At the close of the year F. S. Burton and W. D, 
Place graduated, and for some reason the boys did not continue the pub- 
lication of the Bubble. "Hezekiah Z. Solemnstvle" was the editor, — 
Frank Burton 1868. 

Thus perished the first attempt at journalism in our College. 

The writer makes some random c(uotations from this ancient journal, 
copies of which are in the library of the College. 

LANSING. 

"The town is situated on one of the curves of beauty of the Ram's Horn 
R. R. and is three or four miles, more or less, westward from the Agricultural 
College. Derives much of its importance from its propinquity to the above 
named establishment. It is bounded on the north and west by the "Big 
Marsh," on the east by illimitable mud, and on the south by infinite Swamp. 
It is also on the Grand River; Grand River is noted for polywogs and cranes, 
and mostly navigable by this sort of craft. 

"Lansing is divided into Lower Town, Middle Town and Mackerel Point, 
the last-named division lying at the junction of the Grand River with the 
classic Red Cedar (made classic by running through the grounds of the 
Agricultural Farm, popularly so called). 

senior's song. 

"Oh! I've worked hard since I set out 

To gain a Lib'ral education; 
But now the time has come about, 

And I am near to graduation; 
A few days only yet I stay. 

To study, or to use the poney, 
And then oh Schools, farewell for aye, 

For I am bound for Matrimony. 

VALEDICTORY. 

"Our editorial labors in this field are almost over. We promised and 
took subscriptions for seven numbers of our paper, and this is the seventh. 
All that we promised our patrons has been performed. 



COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS. 239 

"First and foremost, the students here have supported us with an extent 
of liberality which was hardly anticipated by us. With only one or two 
exceptions, they have been subscribers, and not content with taking one 
copy apiece, many of them have taken two, three and even four and one 
has taken regularly six copies." 

THE SPECULUM. 

The Speculum was published from August 1, 1881 to November 15, 1895. 
For about seven years it was published quarterly, after which it appeared 
monthly during the college year. 

The paper became unpopular, got in debt and ceased to exist. 

THE M. A. C. RECORD. 

The M. A. C. Record was begun January 14, 1896. It was edited by the 
faculty assisted by the students and was published weekly excepting during 
the long vacations. 

No names of the faculty were given as editors for over five years, but the 
following persons performed the work: Dr. Howard Edwards, Professors 
Levi R. Taft, F. S. Kedzie, H. K. Vedder, Paul Chamberlain, W. O. Hedrick, 
Paul Woodworth, Dr. W. J. Beal, A. A. Crozier and Dick Crosby. 

The issue beginning April 9, 1901, gives the name of the staff of the Record: 
Howard Edwards, P. H. Stevens; beginning April 8, 1902, P. H. Stevens 
was given as managing editor; September 21, 1903, Gerret Massehnk became 
managing editor. 

September 20, 1904, B. A. Faunce became managing editor; June 22, 
1909, W. J. Wright became managing editor; September 21, 1909, Charles 
Henley assumed control; April, 1910, B. A. Faunce again became managing 
editor. During all these years, President J. L. Snyder assumed some general 
oversight of the Record. 

When organized the following five societies assumed more or less responsi- 
bility in editing the Record: Natural History Society, Delta Tau Delta, 
Phi Delta Theta, Union Literary and Eclectic. 

juniors' annual. 

Li 1888, when the juniors called themselves the class of '89, they decided 
to pubhsh an illustrated "Annual" — The Harrow. This custom was fol- 
lowed by some of the succeeding junior classes, occasionally with a change 
in the name. The volumes contained a "write-up" of the great achieve- 
ments of each class, of class scraps, of athletics in variety, of the societies, 
of members of the faculty and of entertainments, besides stories, jokes, 
puns, grinds, caricatures, verses intended to amuse, a short history of the 
College, military organizations. Here is the list: 

1. The Harrow by the class of '89. (Pub. in September 1887, no dedica- 
tion.) 

2. The Harrow by the class of '90. (Pub. intended for 1888 but delayed 
into '89, no dedication.) 

3. The Harrow by the class of '91. (Pub. in 1889; dedicated to all who 
are interested.) 

4. The Hehostat by the class of '97. (Pub. in 1896. No dedication.) 

5. The Wolverine by the class of '01. (Pub. in 1900, dedicated to Dr, 
Kedzie.) 



240 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

6. Gluck-Auf by the class of '05. (Pub. 1904, dedicated to Dr. Edwards.) 

7. The Jubilee Wolverine by the class of '08. (Pub. 1907, dedicated to 
the Alumni.) 

8. The Wolverine by the class of '11. (Pub. 1910, dedicated to Dr. 
Beal.) 

9. The Wolverine by the class of '12. (Pub. 1911, dedicated to Chester 
L. Brewer.) 

10. The Wolverine by the class of '13. (Pub. 1912, dedicated to Mrs. 
Linda E. Landon, Librarian from 1891.) 

11. The Wolverine by the class of '14. (Pub. 1913, dedicated to Ad- 
dison Makepeace Brown, Secretary of the College.) 

THE HOLCAD. 

Under this title, the students began publishing a paper in the fall of 1908. 
For a time it was issued once in two weeks, later every week. So far it has 
been a very creditable effort. It kept improving and June, 1913, it is a 
most excellent publication. 

THE EAGLE. 

In the meantime, about 1890, a unique little sheet appeared bearing the 
soaring name of The Eagle, edited and printed by a boy ten years old, "the 
youngest editor in the country." Roscoe Kedzie, the editor, was a grandson 
of Dr. Kedzie. The Eagle had a very small beginning, a sheet about two 
inches square, issued once a week for one cent a copy. It grew and prospered 
for a time, giving the local news at the College that interested the people 
on the campus and the students who had left the College but wanted to 
keep in touch with current events here. At last the question came up 
whether the editor should run a small paper for his life's work, or seek an 
education, and Roscoe wisely chose the latter, and the Eagle went to roost. 

THE WEEKLY STAR. 

After one "monthly" number published March 1, 1910, this paper was 
issued weekly. It was a single sheet, three by four inches, with an occasional 
double number. It was printed in the dwelling of Ray Stannard Baker, '89, 
by James Stannard Baker & Co., the "Co." consisting of Donald Blaisdell. 
September 1, 1910, Blaisdell Brothers became proprietors and the location 
of the office changed as Master Baker was moving to Amherst, Mass. In 
1912, the paper was sold to Seeley Brothers, as the Blaisdells moved to 
Alma. The first proprietor was about ten and one-half years old when he 
began publishing and was a grandson of Dr. Bea'. 

There have been published occasionally two or three small sheets each 
intended for distribution among the members of a society or fraternity. 

MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 

This volume of over 800 pages was prepared by Professor W. B. Barrows 
and has been printed during the past year by the College. It reflects great 
credit on the author and the publishers. 

The writer begs to quote from three eminent naturalists: 
"The life histories are especially full, with often somewhat extended 
discussion of the economic relations of the species to agriculture, for which 
the author is especially fitted by his 25 years of study of the complex relations 



COLLEGE PUBLICATIONS. 241 



of birds to insects and crops as a specialist in this field, first under the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture and later at Michigan Agricultural College. 
* * * The volume will take its place among the best of the state ornitho- 
logical manuals." (J. A. Allen, Science XXXVII, 372.) 

"It is a credit to American science, to the author and to his alma mater J^ — 
(Prof. R. P. Bigelow, The Technology Review, Boston XV, 234.) 

In a personal letter to the author, dated Aug. 9, 1912, Professor Herman 
Schalow of Berlin, president of the German Ornithological Society says: 
"I am very much pleased with the concise but exhaustive manner in which 
you have treated the birds of your country, I regret very much that German 
ornithology does not possess such an Important and valuable piece of work." 

31 



242 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



MONUMENTS. — DONATIONS. 



When four of the best years of one's Hfe have been spent in college, he 
cannot but form many associations, and have pleasant recollections regarding 
them. Indeed, no one, unless he is of a very cold temperament, can be 
wholly indifferent to the college from which he graduated. There are so 
many pleasing things al^out college life that are ever afterward fresh in the 
memory and cherished by it, that something is due in return. To commemo- 
rate those days in a worthy way should be one of the last duties of the senior 
class. Let them in some way beautify the surroundings, or aid the college 
itself in doing more efficient work. Objects placed on the la^vn, that will 




Fountain near the greenhouse. 

create interest and draw the attention of visitors, are beneficial to the college. 
It will tend to attract those who are contemplating going to college; for a 
student prefers not only a good school, but one that is pleasantly situated. 
A contribution to the library or museum is a project that would reflect 
credit on any class. A gift of apparatus to some of the different departments 
would result directly in much good in many ways. 

Portraits of the first graduating class, 1861, on one canvas, were painted 
by Mr. Reed of Kalamazoo, through the efforts of the Alumni Association. 

The class of '73 selected a large boulder, found where a glacier left it, on 
the delta a little northwest of the home of Dr. Marshall, the second house 
from the east end of the delta, and had it set up on the campus near a grove. 
The man who chiseled the word "class" on the stone spelled the word with 
one "s." When another was added, he cut a little place at the left to help 
make the word symmetrical; as Dr. Kedzie put it, "Curses, not loud but 
deep, on the head of the man who, if not sickly, had bad spells." 

In the library is an impression with thick paper, taken when moist, of 
an Egyptian monument representing an ancient plowman at work. This 
was made by H. G. Reynolds, '70, and presented to the College. 



MONUMENTS.— DONATIONS. 



243 




244 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The class of '83 put up and had in working order at commencement a 
fountain near the greenhouse, located by Adam Oliver, the college landscape 
gardener. It is eight feet, four inches high, with a basin twenty feet in di- 
ameter, and cost two hundred and twenty-five dollars. The president of 
the class, Mr. D. C. Holliday, Jr., formally presented it to the College at 
two o'clock, p. m., August 13th, 1883. President Abbot accepted it in be- 
half of the College. This action of '83 indicates the love and respect its 
members have for their alma mater, and that in the years to come she will 
hold an unusual .spot in each one's heart. 

At the suggestion of friends of the College, the widow of Hon. Hezikiah 
G. Wells, a member of the State Board of Agriculture for 1861 to 1883, 
presented a fine portrait, in oil, of her late husband, by George W. Reed. 

A student from England, after leaving the College in 1886, not wishing 
to have his name published, gave three hundred dollars which was used to 
purchase a flag pole and books for the library. 

Some students, in 1886, cut and presented to the botanical museum some 
fine specimens of pieces of trees blown down by a tornado that passed over 
near the "deep-cut" northwest of the College — distance five miles. 

A committee selected at a meeting of the alumni, consisting of E. M. 
Shelton, '71; W. W. Daniels, '64; George A. Farr, '70; C. L. IngersoU, '74; 
Mrs. M. J. Carpenter, '81, reported in the Speculum of May 10th, 1889, that 
"It was finally agreed b}^ the committee that the testimonial should take the 
form of an oil portrait of Dr. Kedzie, to be painted by some competent artist, 
at a price to be agreed upon and that the painting should have a permanent 
place on the walls of the College library, provided the consent of the State 
Board of Agriculture could be obtained." The artist was S. L. Wise; the 
portrait was painted in 1888. 

The Alumni Association engaged Mr. Conely of Detroit to paint the 
portrait of Dr. T. C. Abbot. Reported in the Junior Annual by the class 
of '90. 

In 1899, B. K. Canfield, '89, of New York City, for the members of the 
Iota Chapter of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity, prepared a plaster bust of 
Hon. Edwin Willits. It is pronounced an excellent likeness; it is deposited 
in the library. 

At the meeting of the alumni in June, 1900, Prof. P. M. Chamberlain, '86, 
in behalf of the members of the fraternity, formally presented the bust of 
Ex-president Willets to the College. 

Senator James McMillan, of Detroit, purchased for the College 52,000 
specimens of insects — the Tepper collection of Lepidoptera, and the Austin 
collection of Coleoptera. 

I may have overlooked some donations, certainly no funds for fellowships, 
a gift of the Library Building, or retiring pensions or large endowment funds. 
Gifts from classes of students have been mentioned under the head of monu- 
ments. 

Note the report of Professor Barrows in 1890: 

"In commenting upon the McMillan collection, and other advantages for 
advanced work in the department, in the report of last year, I suggested the 
probability that students would be attracted to the College to study. The 
prophecy was fulfilled far beyond my expectations. Ten students spent the 
entire winter vacation in the study of entomology. One of these was from 
Japan, one from South Dakota, one from Indiana, one from Ohio, one from 
Wisconsin and the others from Michigan. All but three of these gentlemen 
were post-graduates. These gentlemen spent all their time in the laboratory, 



MONUMENTS.— DONATIONS. 



245 



were entirely faithful to their work, and all made most excellent progress. 
Several students have already expressed a wish to spend the coming vacation 
in a hke way." 

Through the efforts of Dr. Beal, Secretary Brown placed two monuments 
on the level of the lawn. The inscription on one shows that it marks the 




Fountain, one side for people and the other side for horses. Class 1900. 



"N. E. corner 'Saint's Rest/ built 1856; burned Dec. 9, 1876." This can be 
seen about one hundred feet east of Williams Hall. The other one is placed 
about 200 feet southwest of the Armorv and marks the " N. E. corner Botanical 
Laboratory; built 1879, burned March 23, 1890." 

Gifts have been numerous and, from year to year, were noticed in the 
reports. The gifts consisted of a few young animals, new farm implements, 
books, trees, shrubs, seeds and other things. From the herbarium of Har- 



246 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

vard University have come 4,000 or more dried plants; from the U. S. De- 
partment of Agriculture at different times about 4,000 species; from Samuel 
M. Tracy, '68, over 700 dried plants. 

The class of 1900 set up a massive drinking fountain between the Library 
and Williams Hall; one side for people, the other for horses. 

By special request of friends, Honorable Franklin Wells, for thirty years 
a member of the Board of Agriculture and for a considerable time its presi- 
dent, employed Professor W. S. Holdsworth to paint his portrait for the 
College. This portrait was formally presented to the College at the time of 
Commencement, June, 1903. 

In 1903, without solicitation or encouragement. Dr. W. J. Beal presented 
the College an oil portrait of himself, by Ives, of Detroit, temporarily dis- 
played in the Woman's Building. Some years before, a few alumni had 
proposed something of the kind, but the project was abandoned. 

IN HONOR OF THE CLASS OF '61. 

Perhaps the most impressive ceremony ever witnessed at the College, 
occurred on the college drill grounds, one Monday afternoon of May, 1911, 
when all of the cadets, a large number of G. A. R. veterans and many visitors 
gathered together to fittingly honor the members of the class of 1861 who 
left their studies on the eve of graduation to answer the summons of President 
Lincoln. From the moment of the first call of Assembly till the closing 
verse of America, the whole service was stirring and impressive. 

Brief speeches were made by Governor Osborn and Hon. Patrick H. 
Kelley. 

At the close of the addresses the bronze tablet which had been prepared 
to commemorate those students of the College who offered their lives that 
the Union might be preserved, was unveiled by George A. Saxton, Foster 
Post G. A. R. and C. W. McKibbin of the Cadet Regiment. 

THE YEAR CLOSING JUNE 30, 1913. 

During this year the junior class placed a sanitary drinking fountain near 
the station of the street railway. 

The seniors placed near a pin oak a copper plate containing the names 
of four members of the class who had died during the past four years. 

A large number of alumni and members of the faculty contributed to fur- 
nish a portrait of Dr. A. J. Cook, for a long time Professor of Zoology and 
Entomology, at present Commissioner of Horticulture for California; also a 
portrait of Dr. W. J. Beal, for forty years Professor of Botany. The former 
portrait was presented by Hon. L. Whitney Watkins, the latter by Hon. 
J. W. Beaumont, President Snyder in a fine speech accepting them on behalf 
of the State Board of Agriculture. 

GIFTS TO THE LIBRARY. 

Soon after beginning her work for the College, Mrs. L. E. Landon, the 
efficient librarian, had built a case in which to place books and pamphlets 
given by former students. She furnishes the following list of persons who 
contributed : 



MONUMENTS.— DONATIONS. 



247 



M. D. Chatterton, in '61. 

F. Hodgeman, '63. 

G. S. Beasley, '68. 

W. K. Kedzie, '70, (from R. C. 

P. H. Felker, '71. 

F. J. Groner, '74, pam. 

A. A. Crozier, '75. 

L. G. Carpenter, '79, pam. 

F. A. Gulley, '80. 

L. H. Bailey, '82. 

H. E. Weed, '83. 

C. P. Gillette, '84, pam. 

T. D. Hinebaugh, '85. 

J. E. Hammond, '86. 

L. A. Clinton, '88, bulletins. 

L. H. Dewey, '88, pam. 

F. H. Hall, '88. 

F. H. Hillman, '88, bulletin. 
N. S. Mavo, '88. 

W. M. Munson, '88. 

G. L. Teller, '88, pam. 
R. S. Baker, '89. 

G. C. Davis, '89, pam. 
S. F. Edwards, '89, pam. 



E. G. Lodeman, '89. 
W. J. Meyers, '90. 

F. B. Mumford, pam. 

K.) K. L. Butterfield, '91, pam. 
W. 0. Hedrick, '91. 
H. W. Mumford, '91. 
C. F.Wheeler, '91. 
L. C. Brooks, '92. 
W. Paddock, '92, pam. 
B. W. Peet, '92, pam. 
L. J. Briggs, pam. 
U. P. Hedrick, '93. 
M. G. Kains, '95. 
E. D. Sanderson, '97. 

G. F. Richmond, '98, pam. 
M. H. Lapham, '99, pam. 
G. C. Sevey, '03. 

R. C. Potts, '06. 
J. A. Rosen, '08, pam. 
Among the above were four sets of 
"The Bubble." 



No doubt the writer has omitted the names of many others who from time 
to time have given books or pamphlets or papers to the library. 



248 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

MUSEUMS AND BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM. 

Strange to say, in 1912 there was no agricultural museum, though one 
was urged sixty years ago, and later, after the College was opened. A 
small amount of material is stored in some of the rooms of the new agri- 
cultural building. 

To a very great extent a professor long in service will plan the work of his 




Offices of President and Secretary, Library and Museum. 

department to suit his taste and training. Very few will succeed in the pre- 
paration and maintenance of an attractive botanic garden or museum or of 
an agricultural museum. To some extent the person for such work must be 
born for it as well as trained for it. 

As has often been noticed, it is folly to introduce any phase of agriculture 
or botany into a common school or high school unless there is some one who 
is trained for the work and who will undertake it with zeal. 

FRAGMENTS OF SEVERAL COLLECTIONS. 

The horticultural department has a very good exhibit of "wax fruits," 
and vegetables. In the attic of the botanical building was stored from 
1902-1912 a considerable quantity of valuable specimens — many of timber. 



MUSEUMS AND BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM. 249 

On the second floor of the dairy building, the department of forestry 
has accumulated a beginning of a museum, including specimens of wood, 
seeds of trees and tools used in lumbering. 

The Veterinary division possesses some valuable materials, such as are 
needed for use in the laboratory. 

The Engineering division has accumulated specimens of the work of stu- 
dents such as would constitute an exhibit at fairs. 

THE GENERAL MUSEUM. 

(Partially adapted from Professor W. B. Barrows in M. A. C. Record 
Nov. 3, '96). 

After the botanical museum was started the other museum containing 
the mounted animals, fossils, etc., was called the general museum. This 
* is well kept and occupies a single room, 48x58 feet on the second floor, be- 
sides a few small accessory rooms for storage and for preparing specimens 
for exhibition. 

Many of the best specimens were purchased of Ward's Natural Science 
Establishment, Rochester, New York. There are very few inferior and com- 
monplace specimens. The cases and collections are inventoried at upwards 
of $15,000, and compare very favorably, in extent and appearance, with 
those of any similiar institution in the country. 

There are about eighty mounted mammals, nearly half of which are of 
the size of a fox or larger. The largest is a fine bull moose from northern 
Minnesota, and other hoofed quadrupeds are the elk, deer, caribou, prong- 
horned antelope, and big-horn or mountain sheep. 

The first thing to attract the attention of the visitor to the museum is 
"Old Buckskin." Mr. Baker, father of A. D. Baker, '89, and L. H. Baker, 
'93, lived in Lansing, to which city he returned after the civil war, bringing 
with him a favorite horse. Old Buckskin. When about thirty years old, 
the old horse died suddenly; the skin was mounted by C. B. Cook, '88, and 
placed in the college museum. The horse was famous, as one ridden by 
Lieut. Baker in charge of the party that captured J. Wilkes Booth, soon 
after his assassination of President Lincoln in Ford's theatre in Wash- 
ington. 

The flesh-eaters (Carnivora) are remarkably well represented, the list in- 
cluding a lioness and whelp, jaguar, panther or puma, Canadian lynx, wild 
cat, timber wolf, prairie wolf, red fox, gray fox, wolverine, badger, otter, 
fisher, marten or sable, mink, weasel, skunk, raccoon, grizzly and black bear 
and seal. 

The collection of birds, particularly of local species, is unusually full; prob- 
ably not a dozen common ones absent, though many of the rarer species are 
lacking. In all, there are over 500 mounted birds and about 800 bird skins. 
The museum is fortunate in possessing four mounted specimens and one skin 
of the passenger pigeon, once so abundant in this state. One case contains 
a fine collection of European birds often mentioned in poems and prose by 
the older writers. 

Snakes, lizards, tortoises, amphibians, and fish, are shown mainly by 
alcoholic specimens, but a few well-mounted skins are on view. 

There is space only for bare mention of the shells, crustaceans, starfish, 
sea urchins, worms, corals, sea-fans, and sponges which may be found on the 
shelves, but a good explorer with "true scientific spirit" will make some sur- 
prising discoveries there. 



250 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The main insect collection, which is in constant use in the practical work 
of the College and Experiment Station, is not kept in the museum proper, 
but can be seen by anyone sufficiently interested to knock at a neighboring 
door and ask for it. In order, however, to give the casual visitor a little 
idea of the beauty and variety of at least one order of insects, about 400 
butterflies and moths from the McMillan and Davenport collections have 
been mounted in Denton's butterfly tablets and placed on view in the general 
museum. 

The systematic series of fossils probably is up to the average for institu- 
tions situated as we are. 

The collection of minerals, although containing many fine things, is not 
up to the plane of the rest of the museum. 

"The collections are such as any college might be proud of, and they are 
a source of pride and gratification of scores of thousands of citizens who 
visit the College each year and gather pleasure, information and inspiration 
from each visit. Such collections are worthy of a better setting, and al- 
though several new buildings are needed an impartial canvas of the needs 
of the several departments would show clearly that the department of 
zoology, physiology and geology, with its large and increasing museum, 
has a stronger claim for a new building than any other single department. 
The existing collections alone, if properly displayed, would fill three times 
the space now available." 

THE BOTANICAL MUSEUM. 

In 1870, when Dr. Beal first became a member of the faculty, there were 
some bottles of seeds and a few other things that were suitable to become a 
part of a museum. The first botanical museum worthy of the name, and 
set up in a place to attract many visitors was installed on the second floor 
and the gallery of what was termed the botanical laboratory. 

The samples of timber sent to Philadelphia in 1876, and to New Orleans 
in 1884, were polished, relabeled, and with many additions placed on ex- 
hibition. As most of this museum was destroyed by fire in 1890, a bare 
mention of some of the best features is given here. 

There were 14 samples of natural grafts as they appeared above the ground, 
and samples of many more as they appeared below ground; some of them 
were of large size; four logs grown over deer's antlers; two trees containing 
nests of wood-peckers; quite a number of slabs of our leading sorts of trees; 
samples of 13 sorts of posts formerly buried to show that it makes no differ- 
ence which end up they are set in the ground; small trees eight or ten years 
old from the arboretum; sections of logs of several kinds showing how they 
check at the ends as exposed in the mill yard; cuts showing much sap-wood, 
much heart-wood, or the heart one side the center; a number of trees in- 
jured by vines; several trunks which were very winding; samples of many 
kinds of knots cut and polished; some tough boards from second growth 
trees, some showing defects caused by dead limbs which remained on the 
tree; polished boards of our native and cultivated trees and shrubs in great 
variety; a collection of barks, of peat, of pressed wood to imitate carving; 
very thin sections of seventeen species of woods suitable for the school room 
to use as illustrations; truncions and cross-sections of our native woods; 
samples damaged in various ways by insects; pieces of trees damaged by 
lightning, by mice, by squirrels, by birds, and by horses, where the owner 
failed to provide a hitching post; a very good collection of nuts and cones, 
and cotton; a fine collection of the cereals, such as wheat in various con- 



MUSEUMS AND BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM. 25l 

ditions and from several countries; twenty-seven sorts of sorghum, rice in 
the bundle as grown at the south; hybrids between wheat and rye, 90 species 
of grasses in bunches; roots taken from tiles which had been obstructed; 
samples of labels and plates for exhibiting apples and pears as used by var- 
ious horticultural societies; a typical set of fossil plants; a case devoted to 
Indian corn classified as dent, flint, tuscarora, sweet, pop. 

Among the most interesting of these are samples grown from the ''earliest" 
times by Indians in Florida, in Dakota, in Canada; corn in various stages 
of manufacture, corn with a different even number of rows from four to 
thirty-six; ears with the rows running spirally, ears without evidence of rows, 
ears of many colors, and ears each one of which shows more than one color 
of corn, ears doubled at the end, corn inside the cob, ears which taper very 
much, ears defective, ears with much silk, ears where every kernel is covered 
by a husk of its own, a stalk containing seven ears, one fifteen and one-half 
feet high with the tip of the ear nearly twelve feet from the ground. This 
collection of Indian corn was thought to be very complete for this coun- 
try, and the best the writer has ever seen. 

In one case was a beginning of a typical collection of mosses, liverworts, 
lichens, fungi, ferns, rushes, etc., so arranged that a visitor may get a Httle 
notion of these families of plants; large numbers of large photographs, es- 
pecially those of trees and timbers. This museum occupied much time of 
the professor of botany for fifteen years. 

The total number of entries of articles was 2,775, of which 1,895, over 
three-fifths of the whole, were collected by Dr. Beal. 

This museum was so unique and attractive that it was not unusual to hear 
visitors remark something like the following: ''I have often seen museums 
of animals, but this one of plant products interests me the most of any, be- 
cause it is new." 

THE HERBARIUM. 

The following is taken from the report for 1910: 

"The collection is in first-class condition. To find any traces of insects' 
work is a rare thing. Specimens are by no means limited to grasses, clovers, 
weeds and ornamental plants, but include large numbers of other things in 
variety, as will be seen by this summary : 

Seed plants, ferns, and their alhes 82,069 

Mosses and liverworts 2,010 

Lichens 1,186 

Fungi 17,953 

Algae 2,470 

105,688 

"The collection is especially rich in Michigan plants, much the best of 
any in existence. Seven thousand at one time were purchased of C. F. 
Wheeler in 1863, 20,000 or more were presented to the College by Mrs. 
Clarissa Babbitt, the wife of Dr. Dennis Cooley of Macomb county; 5,000 
were purchased of the son of Dr. D. Clark of Flint, Mich.; 2,886 were pur- 
chased of the widow of G. H. Hicks; 6,705 were purchased of Prof. Chas. A. 
Davis while teaching in the University of Michigan. All of the above col- 
lections are distinguished especially for the Michigan plants therein con- 
tained. Add to these the work of a host of other collectors in various parts 
of Michigan. I enumerate some of them: 



252 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"L. H. Bailey, Bronson Barlow, E. J. Cole, A. A. Crozier, L. H. Dewey, 
C. K. Dodge, O'. A. Farwell, U. P. Hedrick, B. O. Longyear, C. D. McLouth, 
A. A. Pelton, A. J. Pieters, H. C. Skeels and G. H. Hicks. 

" Especial pains have been taken to make the collection complete in grasses, 
sedges, clovers, weeds and economic plants in general. For example, A, 
Phelps Wyman in two seasons collected over 1,700 numbered and authentic 
herbarium specimens of trees and shrubs in the Arnold Arboretum, Massa- 
chusetts. Hundreds of my own collection — more than 4,000 specimens — ■ 
are included in this herbarium. 

"The chief value of a good herbarium to this College is to aid in identify- 
ing plants received in the botanic garden, planted on the campus, or plants 
of the experiment station. You would be surprised to learn of the large 
number of cultivated plants, weeds, and plants from forests which are sent 
the department of botany to learn name, use, whether poisonous, whether 
a weed, and if noxious, the easiest way to combat. Samples of grass seeds 
and clover seeds are sent asking names of weed seeds therein contained. 

"For more than twenty years the writer examined every new specimen, 
comparing it with the name in the catalogue, checking everything that 
was new in the herbarium. Again, specific directions are given an unskilled 
person, telling how to poison, mount and put in place every acquisition. 
When mounted the writer inspected every specimen to know if the work 
had been well done." 

BOTANIC GARDEN. 

Instead of waiting thirty to forty years for an endowment of 50,000 to 
100,000 dollars to support a botanic garden, the writer made a very modest 
beginning in 1877, or, if we include about 140 plats of grasses and clovers as 
a botanic garden, then the botanic garden was started in 1873. This garden 
was started on the bank of a brook northwest of the greenhouse. The stones 
were a portion of those left over in building the first Well's Hall. The work 
for some years was performed by students, L. H. Bailey having this "job" 
during one year. Changes were made and the garden enlarged every year, 
until 1910, when the area was two and one-tenth acres, containing a few species 
and varieties over 2,100, nearly all of them hardy in the open and many of 
them native of Michigan. This space is on both sides of a slow brook with 
the banks eight to ten feet higher. The plants are arranged in families and 
each plant sets back of two labels, one above ground containing the name 
and the other a piece of zinc in the ground, on which is punched a number 
and the latter are written in a book with the name for each number. 
It is aimed to grow, in most cases, a patch of each, four feet or more in diam- 
eter, enough to fill the eye. During most of the time since the garden was 
fairly underway the paths were kept in grass. To suit the nature of each 
plant, there are ponds and bogs, sun and shade, sand, loam and clay. 

The garden has always been well kept and, from the first, during the 
growing season an attractive spot to students of botany and entomology and 
to great numbers of visitors during at least four months of the year, the 
best of which are June, July and August, when it is visited by more people 
than visit any other portion of the College. 

Here come for the purpose of learning, the man who keeps bees, also the 
person who wants to see what plants suit him for growing about his home; 
among visitors who have been here more than once are four professors of the 
University, some from the State Normal College and some from other states. 



MUSEUMS AND BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM. 



253 




254 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

B. T. Galloway, chief of the Bureau of Plant Industry, was much pleased 
and wanted a garden at Washington like it, only much larger. The garden 
receives plants and seeds from other gardens and by purchase, and it has 
helped gardens in about ten other states. 

In 1882, and again in 1895, maps were published in the reports in con- 
nection with a complete list of plants in the garden, with a device to enable 
any one to find any plant there grown. 

The director of this garden has plenty of perplexing questions that come 
up, some of which are very disheartening. For some years moles caused 
much damage, also red squirrels, chipmunks, meadow mice and muskrats; 
in certain seasons, on certain families, plant hce, snails, slugs, rose-chaffers. 




Tool House and Part of Pond, Botanic Garden. 

and other insects annoyed us. Hot sunshine, and winter's cold, severe 
droughts and drenching rains, or unsuitable soil made it necessary to win 
success by changing the spot where some of the plants were grown. Most 
perplexing of all, was the habit of the Cedar river in overflowing its banks 
and covering most of the garden with water, for three to seven days at a 
time, and if this freshet occurred during the growing season, two or three 
hundred attractive plants are killed outright and man}^ others are much 
injured. To overcome this difficulty a section at a time during six years 
was raised from one foot to five feet or more. To accomplish this plants 
were removed, the top soil scraped into piles, poor dirt carted in, the top 
soil replaced and the plants re-set. Some portions of the garden, for this 
reason, were in poor dress for these six years. Most of the brook^now flows 
under ground through a cement tunnel for nearly four hundred feet. 



MUSEUMS AND BOTANIC GARDEN AND ARBORETUM. 255 

Again, sunflowers, mints, and several other families seem to poison the 
soil and pine for a change. Families must have a rotation or new soil must 
be drawn in where the old soil has been removed. 

To increase the area of shade, some six or eight rods square are covered 
by small old rails, or brush held up by fence posts bearing stringers. 

Here the writer humored plants native to the shaded forests, such as ginseng, 
golden seal, columbo, wild ginder, ferns, wild phlox and a hundred others. 

My reports for 37 years give many details of management, and other items 
of interest to the botanist and the gardener. I close the report concerning 
the garden with a few statements by visitors, overheard by the gardener, 
such as "Oh, the lovely pink water-lilies!" "I think this is just the lovehest 
place!" "Just beautiful!" "This is the prettiest place I ever saw!" "This 
garden is the dearest little spot!" "These grass walks are so nice!" "My, 
but this is a swell place!" "How clean ancl trim everything is kept here!" 
"The pretty poppies!" "I didn't know there were so many kinds of tim- 
othy." 

In an old catalogue, 1861, under the heading Botanical Garden is written: 

"The College grounds, though but recently laid out, already contain a 
valuable collection of trees, rhrubs and herbaceous plants, selected especially 
for the illustration of the study of botany." These statements do not refer 
_ to one definite area, but to the whole campus. 

The details of keeping up the labels and everything else in good condition 
in the botanic garden occupied the time of the professor of botany one to 
three hours daily throughout the growing season , but some of this is a change 
to the professor, a diversion from work in the laboratory. It is estimated 
that there are at least 5,000 species and varieties of plants growing at the 
College, including those in orchards, fields, gardens, greenhouse, the neigh- 
boring forests, swamps and open places. Truly the botanical department 
is entitled to rank as a bureau of information, and there is no question that 
the same is true of the farm department. 

ARBORETUM. 

To a person accustomed to a new county, a term still applicable to Lansing 
and vicinity, (1913) it may seem strange to go into the "woods" where 
the trees are arranged in straight rows. This small artificial forest was 
begun in 1875 on a piece of land consisting of about one and one-half acres, 
located next to the road north of the College and the north entrance, just 
where it is likely to be seen by all the passengers on the south side of the 
cars going and coming from Pine Lake and Owo.^so and by those who 
visit the College. Unfortunately for the visitor, the trees are of different ages, 
so mistakes are liable to be made in estimating the relative growth and value. 
Some years ago, this area included 215 species of trees and shrubs, and prob- 
ably contains about 150 to-day. (1913) 

The trees were nearly all started by planting the seeds and nuts, before 
drying, just where they were expected to remain. 

Giving the results of any measurements of the height and diameter would 
be quite misleading in many cases, because of differences in the soil, space 
occupied, and for several other reasons, still such measurements may be 
worth mentioning. 

Trees suitable for good telegraph poles have been grown on suitable soil 
in thirty years. 

The numerous mistakes made in the arrangement of the trees are in- 
structive as well as those properly arranged. 



256 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

WEA.THER OBSERVATIONS AT THE MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Prepared by Dewey A. Seeley. 

Eight years before the U. S. Government inaugurated a Weather Bureau, 
Dr. R. C. Kedzie began making and recording weather observations at the 
Michigan Agricultural College; this was in April, 1863. These observations 
were continued faithfully, with almost no interruption, until 1902, the year 




Vtf tAT>V«.T=«. %V»V^VAV1 






U. S. Weather Bureau. 



of Dr. Kedzie's death. The work was then taken up by other observers 
and is still carried on, so that more than forty-seven years' records are on file, 
showing tlie temperature, rainfall and other weather conditions which have 
prevailed from day to day at the College. This is one of the longest contin- 
uous records in existence. 

Dr. Kedzie's records include not only temperature and precipitation 
measurements, but also atmospheric pressure, wind direction and velocity, 
the Immidity of the air and the cloucliness, all carefully and systematically 
recorded. Few men have the interest and persistency necessary for such 
an undertaking. The results of his work will continue to be of great value 
for reference and study for years to come. 

Dr. Kedzie reported his observations to the Smithsonian Institute until 
the U. S. Signal Service, (the forerunner of the present Weather Bureau) 



WEATHER OBSERVATIONS AT THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 257 

was established in 1871. From this time on he was a "voluntary observer" 
in the government service until his death. 

The weather ol^servations made at the College have l^een published an- 
nually, from the first, in the Report of the State Board of Agriculture, and 
they still constitute a i)art of that report. 

In January, 1887, a regular station of the U. S. Signal Service was es- 
tablished at Lansing, Mich., three and one-half miles west of the College, 
so that from that date on, a double set of observations was made in the 
vicinity. The Lansing station was first in charge of Mr. Norman B. Conger. 
In July, 1891, Mr. Conger was ordered to close the Lansing office and pro- 
ceed to Detroit, Mich., where he is still located. 

Mr. C. Fred Schneider was directed to reopen the station in February, 
1895, as section director for Michigan, the signal service having been changed 
in name to the Weather Bureau and transferred from the army to the de- 
partment of agriculture. June 30, 1903, the station was again closed and 
Mr. Schneider was transferred to Grand Rapids, Mich., where he is still in 
charge of the local office and the climatological work of the state. 

Still another series of accurate weather observations has been made in 
the vicinity of the College, by the State Board of Health, on the grounds 
surrounding the State Capitol at Lansing. These records were begun in 
January, 1879, and have been continuous since that date. Mr. Wm. M. 
Force, of the State Board of Health, has personally made the greater portion 
of these observations. They include temperature, wind, precipitation of 
moisture, pressure and, for a number of years, ozone measurements. 

From the time of Dr. Kedzie's final illness until May 1, 1910, the ob- 
servations at the Michigan Agricultural College were made by the experi- 
ment station chemists, including Floyd W. Robison and A. J. Patten. 

During the summer of 1909 and the winter of 1909-10, the U. S. Weather 
Bureau constructed a regular weather bureau observation building near the 
north entrance to the college campus, and on May 1, 1910, the station was 
opened by Mr. Dewey A. Seeley, who is now in charge, as local forecaster. 
This station is well equipped with instruments and not only carries on com- 
plete and accurate observations but is serving the public with forecasts, 
weather maps and bulletins, a service which is proving very beneficial to 
the varied interests of the community, especially to the agriculturist. Tele- 
graphic reports are received each morning from all parts of the country and 
Canada, stating the weather conditions at the various stations. These 
reports are charted and serve as a basis for forecasting the weather con- 
ditions during the succeeding thirty-six to forty-eight hours. 

Dr. Kedzie conducted a course of instruction in meteorology at the Col- 
lege, as a junior and senior elective study, which was discontinued with his 
death. This work has now been taken up again by Mr. Seeley. 

From the long series of records at the College many interesting statistics 
can be gleaned. Space will not permit any extended summary of this sort, 
but a few data are noted as follows: 

Highest temperature on record 100 degrees, in July, 1887. 

Lowest temperature on record — 22 degrees, in February, 1885. 

Mean annual temperature 46.7 degrees. 

Average annual precipitation 31 inches. 

Greatest rainfall in any one month 11.35 inches, in June, 1883. 

Greatest annual precipitation 48.36 inches, 1883. 
33 



258 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Usually the least precipitation occurs in the winter months and the greatest 
amount from May 1 to July 31. The driest year known was 1894, when but 
19.30 inches was recorded. 

In 1883, President Abbot and Dr. Kedzie made an effort to induce the 
Signal Service Bureau at Washington to establish a Signal Service Station 
at the College for the benefit of farmers. 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 259 



CHAPTER XIX. 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



Elsewhere references are made to the "jungles" of brush, stumps, charred 
logs, and swamps when the College opened in '57. Northeast of the present 
Woman's Building was a small tamarack swamp with a pond from which 
issued the deep voices of bull frogs; and from there along the lowest ground 
to the present open ditch by the seven willows, and spreading toward the 
dwelling long occupied by President Abbot, and and later by Dr. Beal, was 
a huckleberry swamp. 

Charles E. Hollister, '61, told the writer that he was the boy who, when a 
student, cut the tops off many of the native trees on the campus, those in 
authority believing it would induce them to spread out and improve in 
appearance. Later years proved the folly of this operation, for the trees 
had become old and feeble and were making slow growth. Many of them 
died and from time to time were removed. 

Mr. Hollister said that Professor J. C. Holmes, the first professor of horti- 
culture, set out the first evergreens at the College, in 1858, and later, in 1866, 
others were set. These were chiefly Norway spruces, white pines, Austrian 
and Scotch pines and red cedars. The pines, he thinks, were brought from 
Pine Lake by S. L. Kilbourne, now of Lansing, then a student. Many of 
these trees are still standing, mostly near College Hall and the four oldest 
dwelling houses. 

Years ago Professor Holmes told the writer that Dr. Thurber, the second 
professor of horticulture, set the oldest of the other kinds of trees and shrubs, 
such as the Ginkgo tree, bald cypress. Oriental spruce, Cembrian pine, 
dwarf pine, Siberian pea tree, privet, Kentucky coffee trees, the first Japanese 
quinces, and spiraeas and a number of others which are now probably gone 
for one reason and another. Spii'aea triloba is one of our choicest shrubs. 
The oldest one that the writer is certain about is located some fifty feet 
nearly east of the east entrance to College Hall and must have been planted 
about 1861. 

In President WiUiams' second annual report, made December, 1858, he 
states that during that year Dr. Asa Gray donated to the horticultural de- 
partment, from the botanical garden at Cambridge, a large box of perennial 
herbs; that Isaac Buchanan, seedsman and florist of New York, donated 
greenhouse and hardy plants, bulbs, shrubs, etc., and that Thomas Hogg 
and Sons of New York, donated a collection of shrubs and trees, including 
species of magnoUa, paulonia, wigelia, sahsburia, etc. 

At one time a few white pines grew on the north bank of the river, south- 
west of the president's house. For many years the writer knew the location 
of a large pine stump on this bank, and from this place President Abbot 
removed with his own hands a small white pine and set it three or four rods 
west and north of the house, 7, he then occupied, later, occupied for thirty- 
eight years by Dr. Beal. This tree he set for his daughter Mary. Dr. Beal 



260 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

kept this from running up tall by lopping off at three different times about ten 
feet of the top. From the same bank, President Abbot removed a red cedar 
and set about four rods west and south for his son, J. Rodney, '84. 

Previous to Dr. Beal's taking charge of the campus, Adam Oliver, an 
Englishman living in Kalamazoo, was selected by Judge H. G. Wells to 
make plans for the drives and paths. Dr. Beal set many of the evergreens 
on the campus, especially about the houses occupied by the president. Pro- 
fessor Vedder, No. 2, Professor Barrows, No. 3. Owing to lack of funds, the 
assortment was not large. Had he continued in charge later than 1881, he 
would have thinned these groups of trees and made many substitutions. 

During the summer of 1870, when Dr. Beal was first employed at the Col- 
lege, he placed many labels on trees, or near them, giving the common and 
scientific names. Ever since that time the custom has been continued with 
a varied degree of thoroughness. 

In 1878, and again in 1901, Dr. Beal prepared an alphabetical list of trees 
and shrubs at the College, the last time about six hundred in number, with 
a brief popular description, and naming the location where a good specimen 
of each could be seen. These pamphlets, kept in duplicate, were freely 
given students who needed them. 

By order of the State Board, without the knowledge of or consultation 
with the professor of horticulture, American elms were ordered set along 
the entire front of the College land. 

In the year 1879, we set two rows; in each row the trees were forty feet 
apart, those in one alternating with those in the other. The inside row was 
set four feet from the line fence, the outside one twelve feet from the fence. 
In later years these elms proved to be an uneven, and mostly a ragged lot, 
varying much in form, varying astonishingly in size, depending in each case 
on whether the soil was good or poor. 

The following is the description of the campus made by President Abbot 
in his report for 1882: 

"Directly east of the main entrance to the State Capitol is a wide avenue, 
which terminates, three and a half miles distant, at the gate of the grounds 
of the Michigan Agricultural College. These grounds are 676 acres in 
extent, and are separated into two parts by the Red Cedar River, a small 
stream whose source is thirty miles away. The college farm is mostly on 
the south side of this river, and the buildings are all in one large park of 
about 100 acres, on the north side. The college park has been laid out, in 
the main, by Mr. Adam Oliver, a landscape gardener of Kalamazoo, Michi- 
gan. He is not responsible for the drive from the chemical laboratory to 
the greenhouse, nor for the drives near the library building, nor for 
numerous new drives in the vicinity of more recent buildings, nor for sundry 
minor changes made by successive professors having the campus in charge. 
There are in the park no straight rows of buildings or of trees, but its more 
than thirty buildings, if barns be included in the number, are separated by 
undulating lawns, shallow ravines, and groups of trees. In one place only 
the method of grouping trees is departed from, for along the highway, a 
mile in extent, a double row of elms, one without the fence and one within, 
forms a double walk along the road. 

"The drive from the west entrance ascends a hill, and, leaving a pear, 
plum and cherry orchard on the left, keeps near the steep river bank on the 
right. At the top of the hill the drive divides, the left hand road passing 
by the president's house, a small astronomical oljscrvatory, and seven dwell- 
ing houses for some of the officers of the College, The right hand drive fol- 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 261 

lows the winding river bank, passes the apiary on the left and the new botani- 
cal laljoratory, and crosses a ravine near the wild garden, by a rustic bridge, 
modeled after one in the New York Central Park. From this place walks 
and drives diverge to the College Hall, the 1 warding hall, the greenhouse, 
the chemical laboratory, the library and museum, and other buildings. 
Beyond this group of buildings are the farm house, the farm buildings and the 
carpenter shop; still farther on are the vegetables, the small fruits and the 
apple orchard, and the bridge that leads to the main part of the farm." 

The following description, by the writer, was true from 1880-1900. 

''The chief glory of a park or the surroundings of a home are trees and 
grass, and now on the campus of M. A. C. we have them both in great pro- 
fusion and luxuriance, and, in addition, the gentle undulations of the land. 
The area of that portion of 'the state farm,' as some of our older friends 
still call it, which contains the buildings, consists of about ninety acres, 
gradually enlarged as new buildings are placed farther out from those that 
are older. The surface is gently rolling, with the Red Cedar river on the 
south. The stream was long since deprived of its floodwood, the banks 
cleared of old logs and rubbish, leaving nearly all the woody growth as 
nature planted. 

"A good many native trees of the original 'oak opening' are still standing 
where they stood when the wild land was purchased for the use of the College, 
while large numbers of trees and shrubs, both native and exotic, have been 
planted. In many places some were removed, as they always should be, if 
removed at all, before they were spoiled by crowding, while in certain other 
places groups have been allowed to grow with the branches intermingling. 
Broad open areas are seen here and there, suitable for play grounds and views 
of buildings, but every year some favorite tree-tops narrow the openings. 
Unquestional)ly the most enduring and valuable trees for planting are those 
found in our own country, most of which are natives of our own state. We 
have in the state ninety or more kinds of native trees and two hundred and 
ten, or more, shrubs, all of which deserve notice for parks of considerable 
size. One of the attractive features of the campus is the thrifty trees of 
many kinds, not all sugar maples and American elms, which too often are 
about the only ones selected as at all suitable for planting. 

"A large percentage of the older exotic trees on the campus are failing in 
one way or another. Most of the Austrian pines and Scotch pines, so often 
purchased of nurserymen, though only twenty to thirty years old, have 
become shabby and have been cut down. The white h'lvch of Europe, in- 
cluding the cut-leaved, weeping variety, are dead or dying; European larches 
are failing; many Norway spruces are past their prime. These trees have had 
as good a chance as we were able to give them here, in soil and exposure of 
great variety. 

"The grass is frequently mowed and that near the buildings is kept closely 
cut. There are some two miles of drives and two or more of paths, the 
latter covered with artificial stone. The fifty or more buildings are nicely 
distributed, with plenty of room for each. No one claims that our campus 
is kept as well as those of Hunnewell and of Sargent in Massachusetts, where 
wealth and labor without stint have made the details most complete, but we 
can justly claim the finest campus, all things considered, of any institution of 
learning in North America. 

"Now and then a person viewing our beautiful and extensive grounds de- 
plores the fact, saying that it is a poor example to set our students, none 
of whom can ever hope to possess anything approaching it; but most people 



262 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

think the delightful surroundings cannot help exerting a healthful influence 
on the life of those who remain here for some time. In a recent address on 
'Our City's Breathing Places,' Hon. C. W. Garfield, '70, says: 'A child born 
into an environment of art, with lovely things to look at from his earliest 
babyhood, will have his nature materially affected by the beautiful associa- 
tions and will grow into a 'deUcacy of texture,' if I may be allowed the ex- 
pression, that can be imparted in no other way. Often a single picture upon 
the wall of the living room directs a career.' 

''Any one with the least spark of love for the beautiful in nature, for the 
first time seeing the campus from the hill in the vicinity of the president's 
house, or on coming from the east along the highway, invariably makes 
use of one or more of the following: 'This is grand, nice, inspiring, beautiful, 
magnificent, a lovely place;' and even one daily accustomed to the view, 
if he stops to think of it, will be found u.Vuig some of these exclamations; 
while there can be no doubt that after an absence of a few weeks, months or 
years, the former student finds these views one of the chief attractions of 
the dear old College. The scene varies. In winter, it is the gentle undula- 
tions in the surface of the ground, the evergreens and the views of the dis- 
tant buildings, made clearer by the absence of the broad leaves which fell in 
autumn; in spring, it is the early flowers of elms, maples, and later the new 
and tender leaves, the fresh grass, the light new growth of spruce and pine, 
which contrast with the old ; in autumn, it is the contrast of evergreens with 
the fading lawn, the leaves of the trees changing to brown, red, scarlet and 
yellow." 

At the time of writing (1913) the views are much interrupted and restricted 
by the great number of trees, some of which would better be removed. The 
general view from the president's house and from several other spots on the 
campus is not as good today (1913) as it was fifteen or twenty years ago, 
when the trees were smaller, and the buildings less hidden from view. This 
is well illustrated by a photograph taken in 1898 and used in the M. A. C. 
Record, vol. V, March 29, 1898. 

In 1908 Assistant Professor C. P. Halligan referred to another phase of the 
campus well worth attention — a very undesirable condition now rapidly 
becoming more and more apparent each year. He referred to the condition 
of the old lawns, which are rapidly becoming thin and infested with un- 
sightly weeds, for the reason thab no means are supplied to furnish barnyard 
manure of commercial fertilizers. 

THE WATER GARDEN. 

In the early days of the College, there was a small tamarack swamp north 
of where the horticultural laboratory was afterward located, and east of 
where the woman's building now stands. L. R. Taft, Professor of Horti- 
culture, in 1889, scraped out considerable muck, leaving a depression with 
graceful, wavy outlines and an island to which led rustic foot bridges. On 
the island and outside the pond, were planted quantities of shrubbery and 
perennials, and inside were planted water lilies and other aquatics. In its 
prime this seemed a pronounced success, but later in dry weather, the water 
leaked out and to pump in a supply was too costly. The pond harbored 
quantities of polly-wogs and some bull-heads and many mosquitoes. Numer- 
ous shiny green algae disfigured the surface. In later years, during the 
winter when the pond was nearly dry, Professor U. P. Hedrick took out 
more muck, spreading it on the thin places of the lawn. This did not help 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 263 

matters so far as the pond was concerned. To new men in charge it seemed 
best to make changes, so most of the shrubbery was removed from the 
water garden, quantities of brush, rubbish and surplus dirt from various 
sources dumped in and portions of the spot were planted to numerous sorts 
of small evergreens. These paragraphs show how expensive it is to make 
frequent changes of men in charge of fields, cattle, orchards or campus. 

DEER PARK. 

In 1898 permission was secured from the Board of Agriculture to fence 
in the "wood lot" and a part of the arboretum adjoining, for a deer park. 
The area selected, of about two acres, was enclosed with a Page woven wire 
fence, seven and one-half feet high, a small pond was excavated and water 
was provided from the College system. A pair of young elk and three deer, 
a buck, a doe and a fawn, were procured from Belle Isle Park, Detroit, 
through the kindness of the park commissioners. 

Some years later the elk ran down and killed one of the deer, then the 
remaining deer and elk were separated by a stout fence ; still later the male 
elk became dangerous and was disposed of, later the females were sold. 
After a time, for lack of variety of food or for other reasons, most of the deer 
became thin and sickly. At present, there are but three remaining. 

NESTING BOXES FOR BIRDS. 

In 1899, chiefly through the influence of Hon. L. Whitney Watkins, '93, 
then a member of the State Board of Agriculture, fifty dollars was appropria- 
ted for placing numerous boxes of neat design among the trees. 

Professor Barrows has this to say: 

"Forty of the single nesting-boxes, adapted for the use of bluebirds, wrens, 
nuthatches, chickadees, and white-breasted swallows, were placed in favor- 
able localities and two large bird houses, one with twenty-four compart- 
ments and the other with fifty, have been prepared for colonies of swallows or 
purple martins. These last two houses were finished too late to be occupied this 
season, but several of the smaller boxes were at once occupied by wrens, and 
it is hoped that others may be utilized by bluebirds for their second broods. 
These birds have much to contend with on the campus, bluejays and red 
squirrels being very numerous and aggresive, while the omnipresent English 
sparrow is only kept in check by continual shooting and systematic dis- 
couragement of other kinds. Fortunately the birds are almost exempt from 
human interference, the students and other residents of the College giving 
them every protection possible." 

The following, by James Russell Lowell, is "so well put" and, to some 
extent, applicable to the division of authority at M. A. C. that it finds a 
place in this history. It is taken from the Harvard Graduate's Magazine. 
The advice may not be needed as far as M. A. C. is concerned but it would 
be appropriate for some streets in a city not many miles from our campus, 
and very likely for other portions of our state : 

Trees in the College Yard. (Harvard) 

" My dear Dr. Hill : — I have been meaning to speak to you for some time 
about something which I believe you are interested in, as well as myself, and, 
not having spoken, I make occasion to write this note. Something ought to 
be done about the trees in the College Yard. That is my thesis and my 



264 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

corollary is that you are the man to do it. They remind me always of a 
young author's first volume of poems. There are too many of 'em, and too 
many of one kind. If they were not planted in such formal rows, they would 
typify very well John Bull's notion of 'our democracy' where every tree is 
its neighbor's enemy, and all turn out scrubs in the end, l^ecause none can 
develoi^ fairly. Then there is scarce anything but American elms. I have 
nothing to say against the tree itself. I have some myself whose trunks I 
look on as the most precious baggage I am responsible for in the journey of 
life; but planted as they are in the Yard, there's no chance for one in ten. 
If our buildings so nobly dispute architectural pre-eminence with cotton 
mills, perhaps it is all right that the trees should become spindles; but I 
think Hesiod (who knew something of countr}^ matters) was clearly right 
in his half being better than the whole, and nowhere more so than in the 
matter of trees. There are two English beeches in the Yard, which would 
become noble trees if the elms would let 'em alone. As it is, they are in 
danger of starving. Now, as you are our Gubernetes, I want you to take 
the elms in hand. We want more variety, more grouping. We want to 
learn that one fine tree is worth more than any mob of second-rate ones. 
We want to take a leaf out of Chaucer's book, and understand that in a 
stately grove every tree must 'stand well from his fellow apart.' A doom 
hangs over us in the matter of architecture, but if we will only let a tree 
alone it will build itself with a nobleness of proportion and grace of detail 
that Giotto himself might have envied. Nor should the pruning, as now, be 
trusted to men who get all they cut off, and whose whole notion of pruning, 
accordingly is 'ax and it shall be given unto you.' Do, pray, take this 
matter into your own hands — for you know how to love a tree — and give us 
a modern instance of a wise saw. Be remembered among your other good 
things as the president that planted the groups of evergreens for the wind 
to dream of the sea in all summer, and for the snowflakes to roost on in 
winter and believe me (at the end of my sheet though not of my sermon) 
always cordially yours, 

Elmwood, December 8, 1863." 

CEMENT WALKS. 

In 1892 nearly two miles of nice cement walks were placed in the vicinity 
of the main buildings. The job was done by the Cleveland Silex Stone 
Company. From time to time, since then, more paths have been laid down 
as new buildings have been erected. 

LIGHTS FOR THE CAMPUS. 

In dark nights, for many years, people carried lanterns in finding their 
way from one place to another, or took their bearings by the dim lights in the 
windows of dwellings; a portion of the time the moon was a great help, but, as 
the Irishman put it, "The moon is very unreliable, and never shows her light 
when most needed." About 1892, President Clute had large kerosene lamps 
on about a dozen posts scattered about. In 1895 Professor Woodworth 
began hanging electric lights to trees and on posts. Since then more lights, 
in great numbers, have been installed where needed, even to placing some of 
them in the barns. 

COLLEGE BUILDINGS. 

For forty years, it was the policy of members of the legislature and Board 
of Agriculture to construct bu Iclings that were cheap and plain, making 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



265 



little provision for any increase of students; but since that time a more 
liberal policy has prevailed. 

COLLEGE HALL. 

To the northeast of College Hall, just across the path, are two modest 
old white oaks. Professor Holmes pointed out these trees with the state- 
ment that, with uncovered heads, there was a brief religious ceremony as 
the ground was about to be broken for the foundations of College Hall, in 
early da.ys known as the ''College." 

This was the west wing of a building which was to consist of a central 
portion, with a wing to the east to match the one erected in 1856. This hall 
is 50x100 feet, three stories high, above a low basement. 




College Hall, looking east. 

College Hall is the most memorable building ever erected in America for 
the purpose of agricultural education, because it is the first one erected 
that has been used ever since. For many years, from 1857 until about 1870, 
it was the center for all class-room work. The first chemical laboratory was 
in the north end. About 1885, the writer changed the rostrum of the chapel 
from the north side to the south. About 1886 President Willits had the 
middle of the hall, first floor where the stairways are, partitioned off with 
slide doors opening on the corridor to be used with the chapel; thereby in- 
creasing the capacity about one-third in case of necessity. The nice red 
bricks were hand-made, in the hollow, south of residence No. 2, used by 
Professor R. C. Carpenter, Vedder and others. The foundation at the 
southwest corner, in particular, was not well placed, for which reason that 
portion has kept settling to the extent of about three inches; to make the 
matter worse, Professor Weil insisted on putting the tunnel in at the south 
end, instead of the east or the west side, necessitating the putting in of 
long rods, north and south, east and west, to hold the building together. 



266 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The rooms were first'heated by'stoves for wood, later by a hot air furnace, 
which, one 'Sunday, set fire to the basement near the southeast corner, 
while Elder Weed was^under way in his sermon, which was unceremoniously 
broken up. 

The pulpit was made from plans furnished by Doctor M. Miles; the small 
walnut top piece was made, in person, by Professor Fairchild, who was very 
handy with tools. Professor G. H. Harrower, with very good taste, about 
1884, overhauled the interior of the chapel; about the only thing still re- 
maining of his handiwork is the strip of moulding four feet from the floor. 
Professor Woodworth placed electric lights overhead in the form of a square. 
Several different styles of movable benches have been purchased, and recent 
ones have been rather sort-lived, owing mainly to careless handling, as they 
were carted to the armory and back as often as once a week during the 
college year. As an evidence of the treatment of birds on the grounds, I 
have seen a quail whistling on the east steps of College Hall, deserted in the 
afternoon while students were at work in fields, gardens, orchards and on 
the campus. Sometime in the seventies the writer put into the large rooms 
on the second floor some blackboards of clear pine, the edges matched and 
glued together. Floors and stairways have been worn, repaired and reworn 
by the hosts of busy feet for these fifty-seven years. Not many years after 
the Hall was built, a new style of roof was found necessary, which served to 
support, for a short time while the State Board of Agriculture was in session, 
the stewards' democrat wagon, well set up and put together by student? 
during the night. For many years, the damp and dark basement was used 
as tool rooms for the horticultural department. Then came steam heating 
and electric lights, when some portions of the basement were turned into 
temporary classrooms; later the north portion was used as a place for stor- 
ing and fitting pipes for water and steam, and the south portion, finally 
about half of it has been occupied by Mr. Groat, who was employed by 
the students' boarding clubs to purchase various supplies; still later, the 
chemical department stored supplies in the north half. 

Classes occupied rooms in the second story, and during the warm weather, 
all windows being open, allowing not only a change of air, but permitting 
the wide diffusion of eloquence of Joe Cotton demonstrating geometry to 
sophomores. In later years, the southwest corner of the third story was 
occupied and the overflow of eloquence of Professor King and his juniors 
was likewise poured over all the central portion of the campus. 

This venerable structure has served a variety of purposes. It has been 
used for classes, debates, organization of societies, church services, Y. M. 
C. A. activities, pohtical clubs, orations, public speeches, entertainments 
such as those by Bill Nye and Riley, alumni banquets, occasional dances by 
students, not to mention class scraps, meetings of associations of farmers 
and of the city council of East Lansing, etc., etc. The following is from 
the pen of Henry A. Haigh, '74: 

"Mr. A. B. Cook, '93, and his council do well to build strongly on tradi- 
tion. Tradition fascinates, enchants, inspires, urges to achievements, and 
it binds with hooks of steel. Great and useful institutions have good, in- 
spiring traditions. And they are good, and great, and useful, quite largely 
because of their traditions. 

"And in this spirit I would urge the preservation of old College Hall, 
the one remaining monument of the trials and triumphs of long ago. I hope 
it may never he razed from the commanding spot where it has stood these 
four and fifty years. I know it occupies a central site on which many may 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 267 

think should arise the great and magnificent marble palace of learning which 
will be College Hall of future generations. But I would keep, preserve, 
strengthen, restore and fondly cherish the old structure forever, in memory 
of the dear, dead days that are gone. Keep it as a rallying place for the old 
boys, coming back, weary with wandering and wishing — reminder of happy 
days gone by. 

"Bind up its bruises with bands of steel and masonry, and keep it in lov- 
ing memory of those devoted and heroic souls whose lives were lavished in the 
founding and up-building of this first of the plain people's great practical 
schools. Keep it with utmost care, as a repository for the mementoes of the 
progress toward better farming, better mechanics, better applied physics, and 
better and broader human hfe." 

THE OLD BOARDING HALL. — "SAINTS' REST." 

The following is a statement from Dr. R. C. Kedzie: 

"This boarding hall was a three-story brick structure, having a parlor, 
living rooms for the steward, his family and the kitchen help, and a large 
dining room in which all the students and some of the faculty lived 'in com- 
mons.' Appliances for cooking with steam were introduced. The rooms 
in the second and third stories were assigned to the students, four in a room, 
but only a few students could be accommodated and there was no opportu- 
nity for an overflow into farm houses in the neighborhood. The condition 
of the road between Lansing and the College made it impossible for stu- 
dents to hve in the city while they attended classes at the College, hence 
many students were rejected for want of room, who returned home to spread 
discouraging reports about the College. The average attendance the first 
two years was 132, then it dropped the next year to 82, and the year after, 
to 48. The novelty had worn off, the enthusuasm had died out, and a re- 
action of a pronounced character had set in." 

This building was erected in 1856 and burned, December 9, 1876. A 
view of this old hall when new and in the woods can be seen in Chapter one. 

The third, and only remaining, very old building erected on the campus 
was not finished till 1857. It was a brick horse barn, long since used by 
carpenters as a repair shop. 

During 1857, four dwelling houses, long since numbers 4, 5, 6 and 7, 
for the use of president and professors, were erected. Later each of these 
was considerably enlarged and otherwise altered, four and six partially 
destroyed by fire. 

A. E. Macomber, a student in '57-'59, says: 

"Dwelling No. 4 was first occupied by President WiUiams; No. 5, by 
Professor Fisk; No. 6, by Professor Goadby; No.' 7, by Professor Abbot. 

"During this year, a small wooden farm house, purchased with the land, 
was rebuilt and prepared for occupancy. It has been moved at least three 
times, in 1912 had been enlarged and was occupied by the foreman of the 
horticultural department." 

In his first report, made in Apri', 1858, President Williams says: 

"Several of the students skilled in the use of tools, during last winter, 
unaided, erected a bridge across the Cedar River." 

Standing south of the old farm house, was the old cattle barn, built in 
1862, with its addition to the east. In 1869, it became much frequented by 
rats. 

One of Dr. Miles' hobbies was to put in grouted floors, deep and well 



268 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

cemented. This kind of repair was placed under the barn where it stood 
later while a cement tunnel for the heating plant ran under it 20 feet below. 
To clear the way for the fire-proof agricultural building, erected in 1909-10, 
the old barn was moved around and placed at the south end of the dairy barn, 
where it is used for a cover shed for small cattle and for a storage shed for 
manure; the east wing of this old barn is now used for a bull barn. 

In 1865 a very suitable sheep barn was designed by Dr. Miles and the 
labor chiefly performed by students. With some minor changes and ex- 
tended to tlie south, the barn is still (1913) in existence, serving the same 
purpose among the group of barns to the southeast. 

A barn for the use of the horticultural department was erected in 1868, 
located southwest of where Williams Hall appeared the next year. After 
two years a tool shed and seed loft were added. In 1873 they were moved 
to the east near the vegetable garden, just south of four hospitals since 
erected. 

A dormitorv and boarding hall, later named "Williams Hall" in honor of 
the first President, was built in 1869, and first used in 1870._ Mr. Mallory 
of Ann Arbor was the architect; Edwards & Cooper, of Ypsilanti, the con- 
tractors; the cost, $31,500. The length is 101 feet; the depth, 109 feet; the 
southern projection, 36 feet; the basement was for a dining hall, in recent 
years cut up into three dining rooms for as many clubs; the rooms above 
will accommodate 86 students. A marked defect in the building was dis- 
covered later, viz: in not deafening the floors and separating into wards 
after the manner of new Wells Hall. 

A farm house was erected in 1869. It was of brick, two stories high, 
33x42 feet. It was occupied l^y the farm foreman, and the men employed 
in farm and garden labor. The cottage formerly occupied as a farm house 
was entirely too small to afford the requisite accommodations. 

In 1900, I think, when the site of the farm house was much needed for 
a dairy building, it was moved about twenty rods to the southeast, where a 
smaller building once stood, known as the herdsman's house. The brick 
farm house for some years past and at the present time has been used by 
the foreman of the farm and his family. Previously, the herdsman's house 
had been moved to the north and a little east, where it has been occupied 
by the foreman of the horticultural department. (1913). 

THE PIGGERY. 

The piggery was designed by Dr. Miles in 1870, members of the senior and 
junior classes performing the labor, under the Doctor's supervision. This 
building had a solid grout foundation and stood where the first engineering 
shops were located; some of the foundation can yet (1913) be seen protruding 
from the east side. It is 34x80 feet on the ground, with ten pens. In 1889 
this structure was moved to the southeast to make room for the first en- 
gineerhig building, and again moved still farther back, in 1907. 

THE CHEMICAL LABORATORY. 

In 1869, $10,000 was appropriated for a chemical laboratory, to take the 
place, and more, of rooms occupied in the north portion of college hall. It 
was the first laboratory built on the campus and was first occupied in Septem- 
ber, 1871. Edwards and Cooper of Ypsilanti were the builders. In 1882 an 
addition at the south was made, nearly square, designed by Trofessor W. 
S. Holdsworth, 1878. Both the original building and the addition were 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



269 



constructed of white brick. Owing to the moderate height and the flat 
roof, it was sometimes called the "Chemical Fort." 

In the summer of 1911, a seccnd addition was made to the southeast, 
54x63 feet, this one built of paving brick; a section, 20x40 feet, connecting 
the new to the old. The last addition is three stories high and contains a 
lecture room to seat 250 students, alas too small in the fall of 1913! 

In 1913 the first entrance at the north by the street was bricked up and 
now the main entrance fronts the south. 

A horse barn, with an office in the south end, designed by Dr. Miles, was 
built in 1872 and stood where the front of the large agricultural building ap- 
peared in 1810. This second horse barn, 38x100 feet, after moving, was 
fixed over and used for tools and implements and a wash-room for men. 

Small barns were built from time to time, in the rear of dwellings on Faculty 
Row, as the professors were obliged to keep each a horse previous to the 




Chemical Laboratory, Looking West. (1913.) 



arrival of trolley cars from Lansing. From time to time a portion of these 
barns were removed. 

The first greenhouse built in 1866, probably by Professor Prentiss, stood 
where the bath house now stands and was torn down and the plants taken 
to a second l^uilding in 1874, located on a projection near the botanic garden. 
This second building was erected by Lord & Burnham and the third building 
now standing (1913) on the same site as the second one, was erected by the 
same company. 

During the year 1874 the president's brick house on the hill was well under 
way and two dwellings of wood, next east, were completed. The plans of 
these houses were made by E. E. Myers, the architect of the new State 
Capitol. 

The three houses were completed by Mr. Cooper, of Ypsilanti. The west 
one of the wooden houses was occupied by Professor R. C. Carpenter and 
later by Professor H. K. Vedder; while the third house from the west was 
occupied by Professor A. J. Cook, and next by his successor, Professor W. B. 
Barrows. 



270 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



OLD WELLS HALL. 

When the old boarding hall burned, December 8, 1876, fortunately the 
legislature convened in the January following and appropriated $25,000 
for a new dormitory which was afterwards called Wells Hall, for Hon. Hezi- 
kiah G. Wells, President of the Board of Agriculture in 1866 and long after. 
The plans were made by Watkins & Arnold, architects, and built in 1877, 
by Peale & Miller, of Grand Rapids. Mr. F. C. Miller was a student at the 
College, 1867-72. In 1889 he was granted the honorary degree of Master 
of Science. 

Professor R. C. Carpenter, '73, built the ice house, 20x30 feet, in 1880; in 
later years it was enlarged and accidentally burned in the summer of 1906. 

THE FIRST BOTANICAL LABORATORY. 

This was built in 1880 and .^tood on the bank of the brook, north of the 
botanic garden. The building was designed by Watkins & Arnold, and 




Ivebidence No. 9. Occupied by the Profo-ssor of Horticulture. 

erected under their supervision. The contractors were Fuller and Wheeler, 
of Lansing. The building was situated on the west bank of the ravine, near 
the main drive and northwest of the greenhouse, to which it was connected 
by a foot bridge acrosp the ravine. The site is the same as the one pre- 
viously occupied for some years by the apiary. As seen from the west, 
it was very conspicuous and added a great deal to the appearance of the 
grounds. Views from the upper story were among the finest at the College, 
and included the State Capitol and other portions of the city. It was two 
stories high, and was modified Gothic in style, being provided with a rose 
window and two towers. 

The building for library, museum, offices of president and secretary, was 
designed by Messrs. Appleyard and erected in 1881. 

Professor Samuel Johnson built the tool-house for farm implements, not 
far from the sheep barn, 1881. It was 40x90 feet — two stories high — giving 
us ample accommodations for all of our farm implements. In 1911 and 
since that time it has served as a blacksmith and carpenter shop for the use 
of classes in agriculture. 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 271 

The old brick boiler house, having a square chimney sixty feet high, was 
designed by Professor R. C. Carpenter and built in 1884 and since that time 
it has been used for store-rooms, tin shop, etc. 

A brick dweUing in Faculty Row, No. 8, was erected in 1884 for Professor 
Samuel Johnson, later occupied by Professor C. D. Smith and since 1909 
occupied by Professor L. R. Taft. 

In 1885 the first machine shop and foundry was erected, having been 
designed by Professor R. C. Carpenter. Portions of the building were 
used for class rooms. 

The veterinary laboratory was erected in 1885; the upper portion, after 
a while, was used by Dr. Marshall for bacteriology. 

In 1885 a low, broad building was built by Fuller & Wheeler, of Lansing, 
for military drill and to serve also as a gymnasium and for lectures. There 
was considerable difference of opinion as to where it should be located; 



Utt.. 




f 


"Ml 


. 






* 


b 


-' « 



Armory built 1885; much used for lectures and entertainments. 

finally it was left to a member of the State Board, by the name of E. W. 
Rising, who drove the stake for the present location. 

The Armory was ready for use in 1886, and pronounced in all reports 
satisfactory for military purposes, by Lieutenant J. A. Lockwood, the first 
professor of military sciences and tactics assigned to the College by the 
United States. The tar and gravel gave forth a disagreeable odor, and when 
used by mixed audiences for lectures, orations, commencement, etc., dresses 
were often badly soiled. After a few years an excellent maple floor was a 
great improvement for all purposes. 

For Professor Lewis McLouth, a large dwelling, No. 10, in Faculty Row, 
was erected in 1885. It was occupied later by Secretary H. G. Reynolds 
and after him by Secretary A. M. Brown. 

ABBOT HALL. 

This Hall, named for President Abbot, was designed by the late William 
Appleyard, of Lansing. It was built in 1888 by Cleveland & Ward, of Flint, 
and dedicated, with appropriate ceremonies, by Oscar Clute, later president 



272 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

of the College, on August 11, at the time of commencementnd reunions a 
of the ahnnni. 

The building is two stories high, of modified colonial style, the walls 
made of red brick. It is located not far from the armory and the residence 
once occupied by President Abbot, during recent years by Dr. Beal, until 
the autumn of 1910, and later, by Dr. E. A. Bessey. The shape is that of 
a parallelogram, extending north and south, with an extension on the west 
side, for kitchen and dining room. 

The Hall was occupied for three years by young women at the opening of 
the Division of Home Economics in September, 1896. 

An apartment building, later called "Howard Terrace," with eight suites 
each for the use of families of assistants, was erected in 1888; in later years 
portions of this hall have been occupied by young women. In 1914 young 
women will occupy the entire building. 

A horticultural laljoratory was designed by Professor L. H. Bailey and 
erected in 1888. It has long been too small. 

In 1888, an iron l)ridge was built over the Cedar river in the line of the 
farm lane. 

In 1889 the first bath house was built, near the old boiler house — a low 
wooden structure, into which were stuffed ten bath tubs, and even this was 
half paid for by the students; it has now become a paint shop. 

An agricultural laboratory was designed by Professor R. C. Carpenter and 
erected in 1889; in 1910 it was turned over to the professor of entomology, 
who added a small insectory by way of a greenhouse. 

A SECOND BOTANICAL LABORATORY. 

The most imposing corner-stone ceremonies ever carried out at the College 
were on the occasion of laying the corner-stone to the second botanical 
laboratory, in June 22, 1892. (See report of the Secretary of the State 
Board of Agriculture for that 3'ear.) 

This building (in 1910) stood in line of other laboratories, and was built 
in 1892, at a cost of about .$10,000, and was never large enough. 

In 1909 there was erected an addition, long much needed, costing about 
$15,000. 

The extension is 25x50 feet, two stories high, besides the basemeat and a 
small greenhouse in the rear, for plant physiology. 

A second bath house was erected in 1893-94. 

The first hospital, near the highway, was erected in 1894. 

DAIRY BARN. 

In 1894, Professor Shaw said: 

"The institution is fortunate in being possessed of a comparatively new 
and commodious dairy barn of which the main part is 44x72 feet and the 
annex, 40x75 feet. The height of the main posts is 22 feet, while those of the 
annex are 18 feet. The ground floor is so constructed as to provide stalls for 
about fifty head of milch cows and heifers, also fourteen box stalls for calves 
and calving cows, and three pens for bulls, as well. A variety of stall fixtures 
are in use, the object being to examine into the relative merits of each. Prob- 
ably one of the most commendable features of the structure is the efficient 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



273 




Abbot Hall, Dormitory. 



35 



274 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



system of ventilation used, by which the impure air is removed and the 
fresh cold air admitted without coming in contact with the animals before 
being tempered by the warm air near the ceiling." 

In 1895 a small poultry house (since removed) was erected south of the 
present boiler house; also a barn some distance east of the present agri- 
cultural building was built for use by the experiment station, in which small 
lots of grains, whether threshed or in the straw, could be kept separate 
and secure. 

The reader must have observed the frequent mention of the need, about 
1895, of more rooms for the increasing number of students. Of the numerous 
devices to bridge over this difficulty, perhaps Professor P. B. Woodworth's 
plan was unsurpassed. He cleared out a cellar under the north part of 




Dairy barn; to extreme right the old cattle barn of '62. 



what is now the chemical laboratory, where it was damp and insufficiently 
lighted, and used it for a portion of a physical laboratory. Above his 
office and another portion of the first floor, where the ceiling was high,, he 
improvised a second story, or attic, which he "stuffed" with negatives of 
photographs and numerous other things. 

In 1897 a cold storage house was erected by the experiment station, cost- 
ing $1,000. This was designed and intended to serve as a model for others 
to follow. The performance of the house didn't come up to expectations, 
and was worked over in 1905 by a western man, since which time the results 
have been satisfactory. 

A coal shed was erected in 1899. 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



275 



THE woman's building. 

This fine edifice was built of red brick, in 1899-1900, ready for the 
"coeds" for the opening of the fall term of 1900. The appropriation was 

$95,000. , , , .• 1. , 

It stands about half way between Howard terrace and the liorticultural 

laboratory. One corner of the building stands towards the highway, thus 

obscuring the view of parts of the campus. It was set at one edge of a 




c;ol(l storage for Fruit. 

tamarack swamp, three to six feet too low, as has since been shown during 
excessive wet weather. 

As originally planned, the building was to be symmetrical with regard to 
the central entrance; but the sudden rise in the price of materials made it 
necessary to lop off the north wing, that the appropriations need not run 
short. 

In the cut shown (a cut appears on page 149) a group of evergreens 



276 



iiisrouv oil' Mi("iii(;.\N AcinciM/riiuAL college. 



coiiccmJs (he spot of tlu^ missing wiii^', jjossibly i'('iuiii<rmji; the pnliicoiilolo- 
j>;isl. of (he reason for roprcsciitiiijj; the DiiiotJicriimi, an iiuiniMisc cxlincl. ani- 
mal I'cla.lcd l() (he clcplianl , as Ix'inji; down; bccansc no one knew whal kind 
of l('j>;s and h'rl the animal possessed, (he I'ossil hones not liaxinj;' been 
found. 

II conlains (lie ollices and pi"i\ate rooms of (lie dean and of (he \arions 
women ins(.i'ui'tors; a sui(ie of four |)leasaid rooms for work in domes(ic ai'(, 
aJso a, room for woodwork; a cooking' lahoralory, wi(h adjaciad small dininji; 
room and paidrv; larfi;e reciladon room, j^ymnasium, nuisic rooms; |)arlors 
and reeeplion rooms; lar^e dininji; room ; ((tile(, and halh rooms, laundi'N', 
and livinji rooms foi' 120 younjj; women. 

The huildiufi; is a. fa\'ori((' one for h()ldin<;' recepl ions, and for haiujuels. 
in (he W'oKcriiie, prepared by (he class of l!)ll, (heeddoi- refers (o (hei!;i'ea(. 




Z)/7//=f >' 



l''ori'sti'.v l.iiliiiriilor.v, (>ri(;iii;ill.v the l''iist Dairy. 



numlier of rules which j;-o\'ern (lu> machinery of (his huildini;'. SurNcyinj;' 
sijuads also say (.hat it is harder (o survey in (he \ieini(y of (h(> "Coop" 
(han anywhere else on (he canipus because (he local aKracdon is so very 
s(ron<i;. 

TiiK KiKsr n.MKV niiiiiOiNt;. 

''The lirs( dairy huildinti is a brick s(ruc(ure of (ilxTO fee(, (wo s(oiies 
hi,<>;h, widi basemeni, (he s(ruc(ur(> co\iM-ed wi(h sla((\ 1( was (l(>dica(i>d 
a( a meednji; of (he S(a(i' l)aii\\inen's Associadon held a( (lu> ( \»ll(\t;(>, l<\'bru- 
ary 7, 1001. In (he basemcad are (he s(oi-(> rooms, cold s(oi'ati;e, ('h(>(\se 
(nirinji; room, lockers and wash rooms fors(uden(s. On (lu> (irs( lU)or was to 
bo found thi> home dairy room, buttia* loom, chees(> room, wash room and 
t<\stinj;' room. 'Vhc second iloor was jj;iven up to class rooms, oflices and 
labt)i-a(()rit^s. The cost of (his buildinfj; was $15,000. 



Tllli) (lAMI'US AND lUIll.l HNCi-!. 



277 



'l'li(> huildinii; w;i,s constructcHl mainly tliroufJili ilu' iiilluonco of I^rofcssoi' ('. 
I). Sinitli, who had formerly hccii cminciit-ly succcssrul in ])Myinfi; off a laiji,!' 
m()rlfi;a};(', (hr<)Uf!;h (he aid of a dairy of his own. 'riic si((^ is between the 
old a^i'icuKurai hihoratory, on the south, and tJu; botanical laboratory, 
on the north." 

HAILllOAI) 'ro 'rilK CAMiniR. 

"The I'ere Marciuette railroad built a track from ''l"'r()vvl)ri(ljj;e to the ( '()!lef>;(>, 
a distance of about one a-nd three-fourths miles. 'The ex|)ense to the ( 'ollej^e 
was one thousand dollars, and is a, very important impi'ovement . 'The 
coal for the year, which ainouids to nearly three thousand tons, as well as 
tlu^ material for the new buil(lin;;s, ai'e br'oii^hl- direct to th(> ('olle}>;e campus. 
It has also proved vei'y valuable in enablinj:; the dilTei'eid. railroads U) I'un 
their excursion trains to the ( "olle^e without lia\'infi; to depend upon street, 
car service." 




( 'o()Ii('nitiv<' store ;iii(| Trollry l)('|n)l. 



I'OS'I' OKI'MCK AND 'rUOLIiKV SI'A'noN. 



This was l)uilt in ]1)()2, and later an extension to the south was made for 
tlu! l)0()k ston^; still later an experiment station buildinj;' at the east was 
enlarf2;e(l and remodeled for the ])()st office, leavinj;' a, room on the north 
portion of the former buildijij;" for a book store. 



TMIO SIOCONI) JJATIi HOUSK. 

This building-, erect-ed in 1!)()2, at a cost of $1S,()()0, is located directly 
north of tlu; west end of tlu; Armory. Connection is made with the airnory 
])y a corridor, thus alfordins easy access from the bath hous(! to the small 
anterooms of the armory. Botii the bath house and armory have the same 
color of brick in their construction, and tlu; general features of the two 
buildings, in minor details, ar(! tlu^ same, so that a harmonious vlkn't is pro- 
duced. Th(r outside dimensions of the new building are 77 feet by (IG feet,, 
() inclies, with an ehivation of 17 feet to the top of the ma/m cornice and an 
elevation of 24 feet to tin; top of the main skylij!;ht. Tlu; plunge bath is 
35 feet by 17 feet, having an average; d(;pth of 5 feet, G inc^hes. 



278 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



279 




Second Bath House. 



BACTERIOLOGICAL LABORATORY. 



Early in 1903 the bacteriological department moved from the crowded 
rooms in the veterinary lalwratory into new and commodious quarters, 
built the year previous. 

The new building is located a short distance northeast of the botanical 
laboratory and a short distance southeast of the horticultural laboratory. 
It is seen to advantage in a view comprehending the line of comparatively 
new laboratories. The main dimensions are; laboratory proper, 75| ft. x 
58| ft., bacteriological stable (immediately behind the laboratory and con- 
nected with it by a corridor) 42| ft.x43 ft., its elevation being 10 ft. 

The walls of the building are constructed of red stock brick with white 
stone trimmings. From basement floor to attic thay have a dead air space. 




Bacteriology Laboratory. 



280 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

On the inside they are made of plain white sand brick, the seams being filled, 
and the whole surface finished with two coats of zinc paint. 

The equipment is all of the most modern style. The cost of the building 
^as about $30,000. 

A GREENHOUSE FOR EXPERIMENTING. 

A greenhouse for experimenting, 20x20 feet, was placed, in 1904, in front 
of the horticultural laboratory, as a gift of the Lord and Burnham Company. 

About 1889 two greenhouses, since torn down, placed side by side, ex- 
tending north and south, northwest of the second botanical laboratory, were 
built by Professor Taft — as an experiment — one heated by hot water, the 
other by steam, to see which method was preferable. 

PLANS FOR HEATING, LIGHTING AND POWER. 

Professor C. L. Weil planned the central heating, lighting and power plant- 
Murray and Ayres, of Saginaw, were the contractors for constructing the 
tunnel. The power house was built by Hoertz & Son, of Grand Rapids; 
Russel Wheel and Foundry Company, of Detroit, built the structural steel 
work, and the College men did the piping for the steam. The tunnel, mostly 
six feet, six inches high, constructed of concrete, was 4,100 feet long in all 
and cost ten ($10) dollars for each running foot. The whole system cost 
about $140,000. The building which houses the equipment is located 
about one hundred feet south of the first veterinary lal)oratory. From 
this l)uilding, tunnels radiate to all the large buildings on the grounds. 

In the tunnels are placed the steam pipes for heating purposes, the electric 
lighting wires, and the telephone wi es. The smokestack is 125 feet high, 
6 feet in diameter inside and 10 feet in external diameter at the base. It is 
built of V trifled hollow blocks. There are four 150 H. P. Scotch marine 
l)oilers equipped with the Jones underfeed stokers. There are two 125- 
kilowatt dynamos. These are duplicates, either one of which is ample to 
carry the entire load. A smaller 45-kilowatt dynamo carries the day load. 
A coal shed of 1,800 tons capacity is located back of the boiler house. The 
absence of smoke from the chimney is very much appreciated by the dwellers 
on the campus. It was completed in 1904. 

BUILDINGS FOR POULTRY. 

In 1906 two buildings were erected. One is an incubator house, 18x36 
feet; this building was designed with a half basement for carrying on the in- 
cubation work and one story above to provide a class room and work room for 
students. The poultry house is 15x84 feet, with a capacity for handhng 175 
mature fowls with twenty-five in each breeding pen. 

In succeeding years other buildings were added to accommodate 2,000, or 
more, fowls. 

FARM MECHANICS. 

For some years agricultural students were taught shop work in the labora- 
tories of the Engineering Division. 

In 1906 a department of farm mechanics was added to the Division of 
Agriculture, Mr. L. J. Smith, a graduate of the engineering department of 
1906, in charge. This department furnishes instruction work to regular 



THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 



281 



agricultural and short course men in blacksmithing and carpentry. A 
portion of the course in farm mechanics is given in the agricultural building, 
such as work with engines and power machines and farm machinery in 
general. 



ENGINEERING BUILDING. 



The second engineering building completed in June, 1907, was the finest 
building on the grounds at that time. The material used was stone for the 
basement story and paving brick above. The interior is mill-proof con- 
struction with maple floors and oak finishings. It is 182 by 84 feet in size, 




Poultry Yards and Houses. 



with an extension on the rear of 47x37 feet. The basement is nearly all 
above ground and answers splendidly for laboratory purposes. The fifth 
story, counting the basement as the first, is used mainly for drawing rooms, 
on account of the excellent lighting made possible by the skylights in the 
roof. The building contains more than forty laboratories and recitation 
rooms, besides offices, storage, toilet, and other small rooms. It is occupied 
by the departments of mechanical, civil and electrical engineering; also for 
drawing and physics, and was fully occupied from the start. This 
building is located between Wells Hall and the first, or old, mechanical 
building, and cost about $100,000. 



282 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




THE CAMPUS AND BUILDINGS. 283 

THE BAKNS. 

The barns, erected during many years, by many different persons, were a 
miscellaneous lot, not arranged with much system. 

In the new re-arrangement of farm buildings, as seen in 1906, Professor 
Shaw had in mind (1) to save the travel of attendants, (2) to centralize the 
position of the manure shed, (3) not to scatter too widely the food supplies, 
(4) for convenience of inspecting the hve stock, (5) to protect from fire. 

"What was known as the grain barn, across the road from the farm house, 
was moved south and west, opposite the dairy barn, and joined to the grade 
herd barn, which was moved back the previous year; these two buildings 
were converted into a structure 45x150 feet and are used entirely by the 
grade beef and dairy herds, accommodating in all about one hundred head. 
The annex to the old beef barn, a structure 25x94 feet, standing close to the 
agricultural laboratory, was moved due south and placed at right angles 
to the grade-herd barn. This building has been refitted and now houses 
the nine bulls owned by the College, which were formerly scattered around 
in the numerous buildings. The sheep barn, 34x90 feet, was also moved 
due south and placed west of the grade-herd barn, 150 feet from it. To this 
has been added 60 feet more, which forms the western boundary of a court, 
bounded on the south by the bull barn, on the east by the grade-herd barn 
and on the north by the new horse barn, the northeast corner of which is 
only a few feet from the piggery as now located. What was known as the 
experiment station cattle barn has been removed to a point opposite the 
railroad track from the old engine house, and has been converted into a hos- 
pital for the control of diseases as they may break out in the herds and flocks, 
and also for the handling of diseased animals which may be shipped in for 
investigation purposes. 

SECOND OR NEW WELLS HALL. 

The new Wells Hall which takes the place of the one destroyed by fire on 
February 11, 1905, was ready for occupancy at the opening of the school year 
in 1907. This building is erected in six compartments or wards, with fire- 
proof walls between, and with an outside entrance for each. Every floor in 
each ward contains five rooms and a toilet room, making accommodations in 
the entire building for 156 students. The attic of each ward is finished in 
the same manner and will furnish very pleasant quarters for six literary so- 
cieties. The basement is high and well lighted. It contains a large kitchen 
with serving rooms, pantries, storage rooms, dining rooms, with a seacing 
capacity for three hundred or more, besides six fine living rooms for the help. 

HOSPITALS. 

In 1875-1895 it was not very unusual for a student or two to come down 
with measles or mumps and be followed by large numbers until the disease 
had literally gone through the College student body of one hundred fifty to 
three hundred. The writer recalls several distressing instances of this char- 
acter. How would it be with our attendance cf 1,700 students'^ 

From 1909 to the present it has been impossible for such a thing to happen 
because there are four well-equipped isolation hospitals besides the general 
hospital used for students ill with non-contagious diseases. We have prob- 
ably one of the best systems of isolation hospitals in Michigan and these at 
a moderate cost. 



•284 



lllt^rOUV OF iMK'lllliAN AdKUMi L'PUUAL COl.l-KClE 




THE CAMl'US AND BUILDINGS. 



285 




First Hospital. 
TllK KKCOND OH NlOW ACHKUJI/rURAL BUILDING. 8KK PAGIO i;5G. 

Tlu; new agricultural ])uilding was erected in 1908-09 at a cost of about 
$182,000 and is the finest building on the campus. Two years previous, 
many of the farm barns were removed, rebuilt and enlarged and new ones 
wer(! erected, thus leaving a clear space at the south end of laboratory row, 
next south of the first agricultural building erected in 1889, through the 
efforts of Professor Samuel Johnson. 

''In size it is 190 feet long by 86 feet wide, and five stories high, including 
basement and finished attic. It is constructed of Bedford stone and leaving 
brick, with interior concrete construction, making it fire-proof through- 
out. In addition to the main building there is a stock judging pavilion, 
45x110 feet, one and one-half stories high, extending to th(> rear. This 
is so arranged as to admit of dividing it into two separate rooms when nec- 
essary and has a gallery along all four sides for the accommodation of 
visitors. 

This building accommodates the work of farm mechanics, meat demon- 
stration, farm machinery, instruction in the use of cement, animal hus- 
bandry, agronomy, work in soils, chemistry of the experiment station, 
a large assembly hall and numerous offices and store rooms. 



THE SECOND DAIRY BUILDING. 

J^uilt in 1913 facing the south is located on the farm lane east of the ag- 
ricultiu-e building. The building is 121 feet long by 77 feet wide, two stories 
above the basement and sub-basement, and made of reinforced concrete; 
building and fixtures to cost about $50,000. 



286 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




ATTENDANCE AT THE COLLEGE. 287 



CHAPTER XX. 



ATTENDANCE AT THE COLLEGE. 



No one subject has given those interested in the College more concern, 
through many years, than that of the attendance of students. We have all 
heard of the difficulties, especially in the earlier years, with a new form of 
education. But to some extent other early institutions suffered the same 
difficulties. 

How was it with the State University, which opened for students in Sep- 
tember, 1841? There were two professors, each with a salary of $500, and 
six students, with ten a year later. In January, 1842, the money ran out, 
Professors Williams and Whiting remaining without salary; in July a little 
money was again available. In 1844, the report said, "The fears once 
entertained have given place to sanguine hope." In 1843 the University 
enrolled twenty-five .students. The bell was one borrowed from the Michi- 
gan Central, railroad, and was suspended on some rails stuck out of the 
third-story window of the north college hall. The expense of candles for 
the early recitations and for chapel exercises was met by the students. The 
number of students increased each year for seven years, when there were 
eightjT'-mne, then decreased to fifty-seven. 

The course of study ran hke this during a year: 330 recitations in Latin; 
630 in Greek; 495 in mathematics; 236 in modern languages; 854 in all other 
subjects. This was all book work, with the explanation that the first object 
to be gained was mental discipline; mental furniture was a secondary object. 
Harvard University was founded in 1636, with a very small endowment; 
and not until 1841 — 205 years after opening — did the number of students 
reach 243 for undergraduates. Even at the time of President Quincy, in 
1830, one of the students was only twelve years old, and the average age for 
entering was about fifteen years. 

In 1885 President Abbot, in explaining to the legislature the situation at 
this College, said: 

"Mere departments of universities have few agricultural students. Take 
Cornell University, and its students are catalogued as follows (register 1873- 
74, page 164): In Science, 119; Literature, 30; Arts, 25; Agriculture, 7; 
Architecture, 21; Chemistry, 7; Engineering, 84; Mechanic Arts, 32; Natural 
History, 6; Optional Studies, 120; resident graduates, 10; total, 461. Seven 
agricultural students out of 461! 

"The University of Vermont and State Agricultural College trustees, in 
their report for 1873-74, page 12, use this language: 'That young men do not 
come to us seeking such an education as a preparation for a life upon a farm 
does not surprise us. The idea that a farmer needs a thorough education, 
that he can make it serviceable to him as a farmer, that he is entitled to it, 
and to the social respect and public influence which it confers, it will take a 
long time to make familiar and operative in the farming community.' 

"The President of the University of Minnesota, of which the State Agri- 
cultuml College is a part (page 29 of report, 1873), reports 267 students and 



288 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

says : 'So far as I am aware, not a single man has come here desiring to learn 
the Science of Farming in order to practice it.' The President now writes me 
that they have two students, and shall do much to develop the Agricultural 
department soon. Bussey Institute, the Agricultural College of Harvard 
University, with an able corps of Professors, has, I am told, but one regular 
student, — a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural College. 

"The catalogue of the University of Wisconsin gives a separate place in 
its courses to Agriculture; but although it catalogues students in Classics, 
Science, Civil Engineering, Mining, and Metallurgy, no one of its 411 students 
is put down as in the Agricultural course." 

During the winter of 1883 there was yet a good deal of uneasiness in re- 
gard to the small number of agricultural students attending the University 
of Wisconsin. Jeremiah Rusk was governor. At the request of Dean W. 
A. Henry, Director of the Experiment Station, the writer visited Madison 
to counsel with the members of the agricultural society and horticultural 
society, the governor and the legislature, with regard to transplanting the 
agricultural college to a farm separate from the University. 

A bill was drawn up and presented to the legislature to this effect. Had 
it not been for the expense, Governor Rusk would have favored the separa- 
tion. The whole matter was delaj^ed. 

That a feeling of uneasiness over the attendance at this College was prev- 
alent, even among the students, is evidenced by the following, taken from 
the Speculum in October, 1884. 

''Only about fifty freshmen, and this in an agricultural college, the oldest 
and recognized to be one of the best in the United States. The College is 
situated in the heart of one of the very best agricultural districts; it has 
a faculty the greater part of whose individual members stand in the foremost 
ranks of their professions, and in which they have become recognized authori- 
ties; it has equipments and facilities for the study of the sciences, that are 
surpassed by those of few other colleges; it has commodious and pleasant 
buildings situated on beautiful grounds that make it a most desirable students' 
home; the expenses at the school are moderate and opportunities in the way of 
work and teaching are afforded by which a large number have paid and are 
paying their own expenses. Considering all these advantages, fifty seems 
a very small number for a class entering this College. Why are there no 
more? 

"One of the principal reasons, we think, may be found in the fact that 
the College is not properly known and appreciated. Its very name misleads 
most people as to its character and the work it is doing. Many who are con- 
sidering the matter of what college to enter, look no further than the name 
agricultural college; this, with the reputation of the College as an agricul- 
tural one, has given rise to the very general opinion that the school is en- 
tirely agricultural in its character. 

"The result is, what is known of our College abroad is, in a great measure, 
erroneous." 

President Abbot and the State Board of Agriculture had no adequate 
conception of advertising. Judge H. S. Wells, long president of the Board, 
considered a statement an inch long, in the Michigan Almanac, to he all that 
was needed by way of advertising. 

The outside world clamored loud and long for more students at M. A. C. 
In 1890 — a third of a century from the beginning- — 369 was the grand total 
of the enrollment, and even then the class room space fell short, the labora- 



ATTENDANCE AT THE COLLEGE. 289 

tories were too small, the sections of classes too large. Then followed the 
effort to secure larger appropriations. 

In 1893, a committee was appointed by the legislature to find out what 
was the matter with the College. These are an abstract of their conclusions: 

1. The agricultural department does not give enough of the practical. 

2. The work of the experiment station is satisfactory. 

3. The members of the faculty do not seem to have work enough; more 
laboratory work is recommended. 

4. A course for women should be added. 

5. The Board of Agriculture should have the entire charge of the College 
lands not sold. 

6. There should be a closer relation by joint meetings of State Board and 
faculty. 

7. Compulsory manual labor (for pay) should be abandoned. 

8. The dormitories should be gradually abandoned. 

9. More elective studies should be added. 

10. A two years' course that may also be part of a four years' course 
seems advisable. 

11. The agricultural course should be strengthened and subdivided. 

12. Part of the land should be converted into a model farm. 

As was to be expected, the report shows lack of a thorough knowledge of 
some of the points mentioned. 

A COMMITTEE OF THE FACULTY TAKES A HAND AT INVESTIGATION. 

On September 10, 1895, the State Board of Agriculture appointed a com- 
mittee, consisting of Dr. Howard Edwards, Professor C. D. Smith and 
Professor F. S. Kedzie, "to carefully inquire into the causes which have 
contributed to the seeming lack of popularity of our College." , 

The investigation was conducted along the following lines: 

"1. Letters to prominent persons. 

"2. Newspaper articles since the origination of the College. 

"3. Interviews with prominent men. 

"4. Opinions from recent students. 

"5. Reports from various bodies, notably the State Grange and a section 
of the alumni. 

"6. Opinions of members of the faculty. 

"7. Statistics relating to this College. 

"8. Facts concerning other similar colleges. 

"9. Faces concerning colleges different in scope. 

" 10. Some stud}'' of conditions in other countries. 

"Statistics of attendance at the College show an apparent increase in total 
attendance since 1887. But an analysis of the figures shows that this in- 
crease is due to three causes that prohibit us from reckoning it as coming 
from the farm or as proceeding from an increased interest in thorough agri- 
cultural education. In order to make a comparison that shall be indicative 
of increase or decrease of interest in agricultural education it is necessary to 
make the comparison under similar conditions and to exclude increment 
arising from the introduction of new sources of attraction. Previous to 1886 
there were only three classes of students at the College, namely, agricultural 
students, special students, and a few ladies resident at the College. At that 
time appears the first class of mechanical students. This class has grown 
from 36 in 1886 to 127 in 1894, and a shghtly smaller number (117) in 1895. 
The attendance of ladies has materially grown, though not steadily. In 
37 



290 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

1889-90 the summer school idea for teachers of science in the pubhc schools 
was originated, and this has caused a growth in the special student class (not 
including regular graduate students or students merely irregular in classifica- 
tion) from 28 in 1887 to 55 in 1895. In 1894 the special winter dairy course 
was organized, and numbered in 1891, 17, and in 1895, 30. If we deduct from 
each year's total attendance the dairy students, the ladies, the mechanical 
students, and the special (teacher) students, we get the agricultural students 
of each year. The figures show increase from '75 to '81; decrease from 
that time to '85; a large and sudden increase from '85 to '88; then a falling 
off to '91; and a practically stationary condition from '91 to '95. The 
highest number of agricultural students was reached in 1888, namely, 232. 
As, however, no specials are given that j^ear, there is probably some mistake 
in the figures and it is safer to take, as the highest, the figures of the pre- 
vious year, 221. The lowest subsequent number is in 1894, 161; and from 
1891 to 1895 the range of difference is only 15, with a final number of 167. 
From these data, we gather that, with temporary gain from '79 to '82 and 
from '86 to '90, the interest in thorough agricultural education at the College 
has practically remained stationary since 1876. 

"So far then as absolute attendance from the farms is an indication of 
interest in the present work of the College, after a consideration of all the 
data, we may safely assume that it has remained stationary during the last 
twenty years. In comparison, too, with the average growth,, our agricultural 
course makes a bad showing. Statistics of attendance for the same period at 
the U. of M., the Normal, Albion, Olivet and the M. A. C, show that the 
growth of the first four schools has been phenomenal, ranging from 80% to 
190%. 

"By study of this table and the accompanying correspondence it will be 
found that in only one college does the attendance of male students on a 
distinctly agricultural course exceed our own; and in most cases it is much 
below ours. The important conclusion from these facts is that no causes 
purely local in their range of effect will account for the facts existing else- 
where as well as here, and we may also comfort ourselves somewhat with 
the other apparent truth that nowhere have these antagonistic forces, what- 
ever thej^ ma}'^ be, been more successfully met than in our school. 

"To sum up the present condition of interest we would say: first, that 
judging by actual attendance at the College, it seems for the last twenty 
years to have remained stationary; second, that this stationary condition of 
interest exists over a wide area of American territory, and some study of 
foreign schools indicates that Europe might be included also. 

"These statements and the talks with the men above spoken of, warrant 
us in assigning as other causes of the stationary condition of interest in the 
college: (1) a distrust of the technical features of the college course: 'you 
are not turning out practical farmers;' 'You are not teaching farmers' sons 
how to make a business success of farming' — such is the almost uniform 
opinion expressed in farmers' clubs. 'Farmers feel that you are soaring 
above them.' 

(2) An alleged tendency of education at the college to divert young 
men from the farm. This opinion has been expressed again and again, and 
has appeared so often in the newspapers that quotations are not needed. 
The opinion operates injuriously whether the fact exists or not, but we have 
examined into the conditions at the college and find that 24 per cent of our 
living graduates are actually farmers, and 33 per cent are either farmers, or 
teachers of farming. Put this with the fact that only 11 per cent of our 
students, on entering, desire to be farmers, and we have important data for 



ATTENDANCE AT THE COLLEGE. 291 

determining the tendency of education at our college. We conclude there- 
fore that, whatever may be said, the influence of the agricultural college is 
toward the farm, since it more than doubles during the four years, the number 
actually inclined toward agriculture at entrance. 

(3) The depressed condition of agriculture. Potent as have been the 
factors already enumerated, it seems to your committee that the chief in- 
fluence in restraining the farmers of the state from securing for their children 
the benefits of our College has been the present depressed condition of agri- 
culture. Whenever the question has been put to the farmer, 'Why do j^ou 
not send your son to the College?' no matter what other reason is given, 
one part of the answer is well nigh universal: 'Times are too hard.' When, 
however, it is decided to send a son to college your committee finds that the 
choice of the college is influenced by a lack of faith on the part of the farmer 
.in his own business. The very existence of this comparative poverty among 
the farmers after years of hard work perhaps has turned the paternal hopes 
from the farm to the city. Your committee has everywhere been met with 
^the remark, 'I do not want my son to live on the farm and work as hard as I 
have done and for such poor pay. I want him to be a professional man or 
merchant and get his money by his wits.' That this idea is widespread is 
evidenced by the fact that whereas in 1880 the rural population, 1,096,533, 
was almost exactly double the city population, in 1894 the population of the 
cities is within 80,000 of equaling that of the rural districts." 

Shortl}^ after this report was made there began to appear a decided increase 
in numbers of students. The following is adapted from the M. A. C. Record 
of September 22, 1896: 

"These few months following the report of the committee until September 
14th contained long and anxious days for all those who have been responsible 
for the various ancl radical changes adopted as a part of the future policy of 
the College. 

"The College declared for women; the long vacation was to come in summer 
instead of in the -vNanter; some of the agriculture was to be taught earlier in 
the course; short winter special courses were agreed upon. 

"Finally, the 14th of September, 1896, came. The chapel bell rang, and — • 
the chapel was filled to overflowing. We have not for years seen such an at- 
tendance on the opening night. We felt that our fears were at an end, and 
that the justice of our conclusions was established. 

"On the fourth day after the opening of the term, thirty-two girls are 
enrolled in the women's course. 

"The number of male students matriculating during the first four days of 
this term is largely in excess of the whole number matriculated during the fall 
term of 1895, and if the ratio between the matriculates of the first four days 
of '85 and those of the first four of '86 holds throughout the term we shall 
enroll this term the largest freshman class of male students during many years. 
This we take as demonstrating two things, viy^., that the change of vacation 
from winter to summer is meeting the wants of a larger class of people than 
that accomodated by the old program; and that our patrons approve of the co- 
education of girls and boys." 

The distribution of large numbers of the M. A. C. Record, started in '96 
by the faculty and the vigorous efforts of our field agent, K. L. Butterfield, 
must have helped to draw students to the College. 

In 1900, at the opening of the college year, and from that time forward, 
expressions like the following are common: 

"The college year opens with the largest attendance of students in the 



292 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

history of the College, All the signs indicate that M. A. C. is entering upon 
one of her most successful years." 

"The number of new students matriculating, up to Saturday night of the 
first week, September 22, is 498. The freshman class numbers" 206, of which 
65 are agricultural, 88 are mechanicals, and 53 are women. More students 
are in attendance this term than ever before in the history of the College. 
It is very gratifying to note that a much larger proportion than usual belong 
to the higher classes." 

''All the colleges and universities of the land are reporting a most gratifying 
increase in attendance this fall. Especially is this true of the technical and 
professional schools where definite and immediate preparation for the work 
of life is the end sought. These facts furnish the most convincing proof 
that the appreciation of the necessity of higher education is by no means 
losing its hold on the American people but is more and more coming to be 
felt as a necessity of our modern life. The uneducated and untrained mind 
is simply incapable of contending successfully with the forces of the external 
world. He is bound to sink in defeat before them. Only the educated and 
trained kind is safe, and in continually increasing numbers our young men 
and women are fitting themselves more accurately for successful adjustment 
to their coming environment." 

In his report for 1902, President Snyder states- 

''A greater number of students have been in attendance than ever before. 
During the earlier history of the College, many students entered who had no 
interest in the technical training given. They desired a general education 
and entered this institution l^ecause they could earn a large part of their ex- 
penses. In later years very few students enroll who do not enter the institu- 
tion because of a desire to receive the technical training given here. The 
spirit of the class room is thoroughly in harmony with the purposes of the 
College. The awakened interest in technical training both among farmers 
and mechanics indicates that in the future the equipment of the College must 
expand rapidly to meet the demands made by the increase in attendance." 

It is a rnatter of common observation concerning colleges and universities 
that the number of students in anj' department or school varies with the 
apparent demand. When beef, pork, fruit and potatoes bear a good price 
and the best of farmers are feeling pretty well, there are more likely to be 
students ready to try the agricultural course. When there is a brisk demand 
for electrical engineers at good wages, the course in electrical engineering 
is well filled, but if there is a little depression in the business and places are 
mostly filled, students in the course dwindle m number and seek something 
else which just then seems to promise better and so it is with other courses." 

During the College year closing June, 1905, the President reported: 

"The prosperit}^ of the College during the past few years shows no signs of 
abating. The enrollment during the year passed the one thousand mark. 
This is an increase of about one hundred over the preceding year. 

"The trend of education in this state seems to be strongly toward the type 
fostered by this institution. This would Indicate that the growth of the 
College in the future would depend very largely upon the liberality of the 
state in providing teachers and equipment. If the state will furnish equal 
opportunities this institution will be required to do a great work in the 
future." 

It is well to remember the following, in the report of an expert appointed 
by Governor Foss, in 1911, to examine the Massachusetts Agricultural 
College : 

"The jDrime function of a college is to teach, but the service of the college 



ATTENDANCE AT THE COLLEGE. 



293 



to the state should not be measured wholly by the number of students on the 
campus. Its total service to the commonwealth should include the state- 
wide distribution of information about agricultural and country life." 

Farmers have been asked to stand up and tell why more of their sons were 
not enrolled among the students. Few have thought to observe that the 
fact of small numbers was fortunate for the College, because it started with 
a very meager equipment and little experience. The faculty would have been 
swamped with one thousand students, or even with five hundred, in the early 
days. 

Why not still more students in our agricultural course? (a) Because we 
have to contend with one of the largest State Universities in the United 
States, giving many courses to satisfy all grades of students, (b) Because 
daily manual labor was for a long time compulsory, (c) Because of the 
fluctuations incident on frequent changes of members of the faculty and 
pinched appropriations by the state, (d) Because there are very few elective 
studies, (e) Because for a long time some of the papers and some persons 
have persistently misrepresented the College in many ways and no member 
of the Board or faculty having denied these statements, editors and other 
persons doubtless begin to believe they are telling the truth and to a great 
extent, the general public believed these misstatements, (f) Most teachers 
of the state are ambitious to send their best students to the Normal or the 
University where they themselves have been educated and both of these 
institutions are large and both are older than M. A. C. There are several 
other good reasons not here enumerated. 

In more recent times large numbers of discoveries have been made and pro- 
gress has been rapid. The teaching force has become much more competent 
and able to make a course of study more profitable. 

Let fault-finders stop a minute to think that the entire worth of the College 
to the farmer cannot by any means be gauged by the number of students in 
attendance. 





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294 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 





SUMMARY OF STUDENTS ATTENDING 


THE 


COLLEGE. 








Years. 


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J2 
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1857 


123 
140 
98 
49 
37 
40 
28 
19 
21 
47 
66 
82 
79 
83 
128 
113 
115 
106 
140 
149 
140 
207 


























12! 


1858 


























140 


1859 


























98 


1860 


























49 




7 
5 








I 










29 
29 
32 
43 
67 
61 
31 






66 










1 















69 


1863 








1 












60 


ISfii'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 


5 








1 












62 




















88 


1866 

1867 

1868 


2 
5 
10 
10 
12 
12 
5 
15 
21 
15 
17 
15 
30 
19 
6 
33 
28 
30 
30 
30 
27 
22 
32 
37 
23 
28 
21 
38 
15 
26 
22 
21 
19 
19 
11 
22 
28 
28 
27 
21 
14 
36 
22 
29 
24 
33 
65 
66 








::::::i:::::. 












108 








1 












97 






















82 


1869 
























79 


1870 


















49 
12 
13 
25 
11 
11 
10 
13 
31 






132 


1871 




















1 
5 
3 
4 
5 
5 
1 
1 


141 


1872 

1873 

1874 


















131 


















143 


















121 


1875 


















156 


1876 


















164 


1877 
















154 


1878 












1 




239 


*1879 


















1880 


183 
209 
197 
177 
157 
150 
225 
231 
239 
207 
205 
172 
179 
165 
140 
172 
130 
139 
168 
195 
186 
200 
183 
127 
148 
166 
150 
181 
198 
260 
313 
347 
429 
538 


















42 
12 
17 
5 
12 
19 
24 
23 
12 
23 
23 
28 
29 
36 
32 
54 
88 
66 
39 
31 
56 
64 
102 
282 
304 
281 
219 
216 
280 
302 
261 
185 
192 
181 




7 


232 




















221 


1882 




















2 
3 
2 
4 
11 
11 


216 


1883 


















185 


1884 




. 














171 


1885 


















173 


1886 


35 

58 
61 
9t 
111 
123 
110 
119 
112 
113 
98 
104 
134 
161 
226 
117 
176 
214 
236 
285 
291 
294 
376 
402 
414 
436 
400 
434 














295 


1887 










. . _ 1 




323 


1888 














312 


1889 


6 
9 
6 
5 
7 
7 
6 
6 
6 
4 
7 
8 
11 
19 
26 
19 
26 
42 
44 
47 
49 
40 
52 
54 
46 












"iY 

30 

'"'ih' 

65 
69 
68 
90 
94 
148 
137 
162 
194 
! 203 
206 
233 
i 287 
321 
393 
326 


19 
30 
37 
27 
35 
7 
37 
31 
11 

8 
7 
9 
4 
8 
3 
5 
6 
5 
8 
7 
9 
4 


340 


1890 








1 




369 


1891 








^ j 




360 


1892 












345 


1893 












355 


1894 












308 


1895 








1 




406 


1896 


9 
33 
58 
73 
84 
96 
138 
83 
94 
112 
92 
96 
100 
149 
185 
263 
222 
272 










356 


1897 


1 

4 
3 
4 
5 
11 
6 
9 

24 
16 
15 
13 
14 
15 
24 
27 
30 










398 


1898 










464 


1899 










528 


1900 










627 


1901 










652 


1902 










689 


1903 










854 


1904 










917 


1905 






1 




1,009 


1906 

1907 


16 
11 
26 
24 
34 
66 
56 
53 


i 

5 
3 

6 
11 
16 

5 
14 






950 






1,001 


1908 






1,191 


1909 






1,370 


1910 






1,494 


1911 


5 

15 
24 


..... 


1,.568 


1912 


1,702 


1913 


1,643 


1914 


2,010 


























1 







*In 1879 the college year opened, with new students as usual, in February, continuing for two terms only, closing August 26. 
Then the time for beginning the college year was changed from February to September and the names of students for five 
terms instead of three were included in the catalogue for 1880. and no catalogue was printed in 1879. _ 

The records do not show the names of students in forestry and veterinary science until the junior year. Previous to that 
year, they are recorded in the list as agricultural students, hence the list of agricultural students in the total attendance is en- 
larged at the expense of forestry and veterinary. 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 295 



CHAPTER XXI. 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 



The support of the College has come from three great sources: First, 
from various grants from the federal govermnent; second, from appropria- 
tions by the state legislature and from a general tax on the property of the 
state; third, from the student fees and the sale of products of the farm. 

FEDERAL ENDOWMENT?. 

The most notable of the federal endowments was the Morrill Act, or 
national land grant for the support of a college in each state, where agri- 
culture, the mechanic arts and sciences related thereto should be the leading 
features in the course of study. This act, approved July 2, 1862; donated 
to each state public lands to the amount of 30,000 acres for each of the 
senators and representatives in Congress, according to the census of 1860, 
for the "endowment, support and maintenance of at least one college, where 
the leading object shall be, without excluding other scientific and classical 
studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning 
as are related to agriculture and mechanic arts." 

In 1863, the legislature accepted a grant, and bestowed it upon the Agri- 
cultural College, which accordingly received about 240,000 acres of land. 
With this endowment the officers of the Michigan Agricultural College 
at that time believed that at no distant day the institution would be self- 
sustaining. 

In 1907, Dean E. Davenport of Illinois, in a paper read at a meeting of 
the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science, gave evidence to show 
that Professor Jonathan B. Turner of Jacksonville, Illinois, was the man 
who first suggested the land-grant bill. As early as 1833 he became in- 
terested in the education of farmers, mechanics and merchants and traveled 
and lectured in Illinois to awaken an interest in education for these common 
people. He was well acquainted with President Lincoln and many other 
able men. Two years before Morrill was -elected to Congress, Professor 
Turner induced the legislature of Illinois to petition Congress for a grant 
of public lands, 50,000 acres to each state in the union, for the support of an 
industrial university in each state. A letter from Senator Trumbull in 
October, 1857, endorsed the plan, and advised that it be presented to Con- 
gress by a man from an eastern state. Professor Turner was in correspond- 
ence with Senator Morrill and many others. 

In November, 1910, Edmund J. James, President of the Universitj^ of 
Illinois, pubhshcd a bulletin, Volume 4, No. 1, in which it is proved that 
Jonathan B. Turner was the real father of the Morrill Act of July 2, 1862. 
President James speaks of this act of congress for promoting the liberal 
education of the industrial classes as the greatest endowment of higher 
education ever made at any one time by the act of any legislature. "It is 
not too much to claim," he says, "that the federal land grant of 1862 marks 
the beginning of one of the most comprehensive, far-reaching, and one 



296 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

might almost say, grandiose, schemes for the endowment of higher education 
ever adopted by any civilized nation." 

We have seen that the legislature of Michigan petitioned congress on 
April 2, 1850, for a donation of 350,000 acres of public lands for the estab- 
lishment of an agricultural college in the state, but the legislature of Illinois 
on February 8, 1853, was the first to petition congress to grant lands to each 
state for the support of a more liberal and practical education of our in- 
dustrial classes and their teachers. 

Professor Turner gave much attention toward founding in Illinois a state 
industrial university. To aid in this, there were four conventions extensively 
advertised and well attended in which Professor Turner was the leading 
spirit. The first was held at Granville, November 18, 1851, and reports 
of the proceedings were printed in various parts of the United States. 

There seems, then, to be little doubt that Illinois was the first state to 
commit itself formally through the action of the legislature to the advocacy 
of this measure, and that the farmers of IlUnois, under the leadership of 
Jonathan B. Turner of Jacksonville, were the first to formulate this plan, 
at Springfield, June 8, 1852, in the definite shape in which in all essential 
particulars it was finally accepted a decade later and found legal expression 
in the land-grant act of July 2, 1862. The very language of the plan for 
Illinois was much the same as that in the bill introduced by Mr. Morrill in 
congress Dec. 14, 1857, 

A pamphlet pubUshed by Professor Turner in 1853 and entitled "Industrial 
Universities for the People," was widely distributed and quoted. In this 
he says in part: 

"The whole history of education, both in protestant and catholic countries, 
shows that we must begin with the higher institutions, or we can never 
succeed with the lower; for the plain reason, that neither knowledge nor 
water will run up hill. No people ever had, or ever can have, any system 
of common schools and lower seminaries worth anything, until they first 
founded their higher institutions and fountains of knowledge from which 
they could draw their supply of teachers, etc., for the lower. We would 
begin, therefore, where all experience and common sense show that we must 
begin, if we could effect anything worthy of an effort." (13) 

Professor Turner gives a plan for an industrial university; it is exact and 
comprehensive; a remarkable production for a classical scholar and one 
who had taught for fifteen j^ears in a small classical college conducted on the 
old plan. Professor Turner suggests: 

"At some convenient season of the year, the commencement, or annual 
fair of the university, should be holden through a succession of days. On 
this occasion the doors of the institution, with all its treasures of art and 
resources of knowledge, should be thrown open to all classes, and as many 
other objects of agricultural or mechanical skill, gathered from the whole 
state, as possible, and presented by the people for inspection and premium 
on the best of each kind; judgment being rendered, in all cases, by a com- 
mittee wholly disconnected with the institution. On this occasion, all the 
professors, and as many of the pupils as are suffiiciently advanced, should 
be constantly engaged in lecturing and explaining the divers objects and 
interests of their departments. In short, this occasion should be made 
the great annual gala-day of the institution, and of all the industrial classes, 
and of all other classes in the state, for the exhibition of their products and 
their skill and for the vigorous and powerful diffusion of practical knowledge 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 297 

in their ranks, and a more intense enthusiasm in its extension and pursuit." 
(13) 

This plan of Professor Turner made in 1852 anticipates in a measure 
what a half century later takes place annually at M. A. C. in the form of 
excursions in August, and the Round-up Institute in March held at the 
College. Professor Turner was a radical, as is shown by some of his re- 
marks: "What a monstrosity was that which some years since took little 
boys and girls, not even seven years old, out of God's clear sunshine, away 
from the birds and flowers, the breezes and the trees, and set them, for six 
hours of the day, bolt upright on a wooden bench, to look at letters and 
triangles made of cotton rags and lampblack!!— and all this, only to educate 
them!!! 

"It may do for the man of books to plunge at once amid the catacombs 
of buried nations and languages, to soar to Greece, or Rome, or Nova-Zemba, 
Kamtschatka, and the fixed stars, before he knows how to plant his own 
beans, or harness his own horse, or can tell whether the functions of his own 
body are performed by heart, stomach, and lungs, or with a gizzard and 
gills. 

"But for the man of work thus to bolt away at once from himself and 
all his pursuits in after life, contravenes the plainest principles of nature 
and common sense. No wonder such educators have ever deemed the 
liberal culture of the industrial classes an impossibility; for they have never 
contrived nor even conceived of any other way of educating them except 
that by which they are rendered totally unfit for their several callings in 
after Jife." (13) 

It is altogether likely that the reports of these energetic movements of 
Professor Turner so extensively copied all over the country served to en- 
courage the farmers of Michigan and in a manner served as a model for them 
to follow. 

In our second chapter, — President Williams' Administration,^ — and in 
the biography of President Williams, references are made to his valiant and 
efficient service rendered in behalf of the passage of the first national land- 
grant bill. 

In his report for 1864, Samuel S. Lacey reports to Governor Austin Blair: 

"Sir — I have the honor to submit my report, as agent of the Board, for 
the selection of the lands granted the state, by act of congress, approved 
July 2d, 1862, for the endowment of colleges and for the benefit of agri- 
culture and the mechanic arts. 

"The lands, thus far, have been selected with reference to their intrinsic 
value, and early availability for the purposes of the grant, and have con- 
sequently been made adjacent to the settled parts of the state, and within 
reach of some of the most important lines of state roads now in process of 
construction. 

"The first relates to the selection of lands of the double minimum price, 
which is permitted, provided that they shall be computed to the states at 
the maximum price, and the number of acres proportionally diminished. 

"The second restricts selections to quantities not less than one quarter 
section, but every such selection must be charged to the state as a quarter 
section, or 160 acres. 

"Could selections have been made of quantities less than a quarter section, 
or of adjoining eighty acre tracts, upon different sections or different quarters 
of the same section, the labor would have been much less, and the land more 
uniform in quality. 



298 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"So far lands have been selected as follows; 

In the Ionia District, for 12,319.44 

In the Detroit District, for 20,491 . 58 

In the Traverse City District, for 116,191 .69 

In the Sa2;inaw District, for 444. 89 



149,447.60 



Considerable portions of the land selected in Michigan under the direction 
of Governor Blair were of very poor quality and after fifty years still re- 
mained unsold. 

The sale of these lands granted by congress, is the source of a permanent 
fund for the support of the College. The state pays 7% per annum on this 
fund to the college, in quarter!}^ payments. It also pays over the interest, 
7% received on part paid lands, from the purchasers. 

Very fortunately for the Agricultural College the state has still (1913) 
continued to retain the endowment and pay 7% interest, amounting to over 
seventy thousand (S70,000) dollars a year. 

For many years past the annual report of the secretary of the State Board 
of Agriculture has contained a convenient and concise table showing the 
income of the college from all outside sources from the date of its foundation 
to the time of the last report. A copy of the tal)le appears at the close of 
this chapter. 

ORIGIN OF THE HATCH FUND FOR AIDING EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 

In December, 1883, a circular prepared by President S. A. Knapp of the 
Iowa Agricultural College was circulated with the view of inducing congress 
to establish national Experiment Stations in connection with the agricultural 
colleges of various states. 

In 1882 a bill substantially the same was introduced to congress by Hon. 
C. C. Carpenter of Iowa. 

"At a meeting of the delegates from several agricultural and mechanical 
colleges, called by Commissioner Loring, for January, 1883, this bill was 
perfected, and the following standing committee was appointed by Dr. 
Loring to have the matter in charge. 

President Knapp of Iowa; President Abbot, later President Willits, of 
Michigan; President Peabody, of Illinois; President Chadburn, of Massa- 
chusetts and President Lee, of Mississippi. 

In his report for 1887, President Willits refers to efforts made to secure 
an appropriation of money from congress with which to pay for experiments 
at each agricultural college : 

"The land grant of 1862 was primarih' for educational purposes. The 
importance of experimental work was but incidentally recognized. As 
years passed the importance of this work became more apparent, and efforts 
in that line were made, but being subject to the leading purpose of the college, 
the educational, the efforts were sporadic and unsatisfactory. It was found, 
moreover, that the experiments were costly, and the funds could not be 
spared from the current expenses of the college already stocked for educa- 
tional work. Recognizing these facts it was determined to appeal to Con- 
gress to supplement the endowment of 1862, whose leading purpose, as be- 
fore stated, was instruction, by an annual appropriation of $15,000 for each 
college which should be exclusively devoted to experiments in agriculture 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 299 

and cognate sciences. Efforts had been made in the Forty-eighth, but they 
failed. It was not till the Forty-ninth Congress that a systematic and 
successful movement was made. July 8, 1885, a convention of all the agri- 
cultural colleges in the United States was held in Washington, and a united 
effort was made to present the matter before the Forty-ninth Congress to 
assemble the following December. Being on the committee appointed by 
that convention, I spent several weeks in Washington in December and 
January, 1885-6, and ten days last winter. The first section of the bill, as we 
matured it, was gotten through the committees of both houses, and there 
it remained for the second session. The chances were slim for its passage 
amid the . overwhelming mass of unfinished legislation and the conflicting 
interests incident to the wants of a great country. But by dint of hard work 
it passed the Senate in a mutilated form and went to the House of Repre- 
sentatives, where, near the close of the session, under suspension of the rules, 
and therefore without chance of amendment, it passed by an overwhelming 
vote and went to the President, who signed it March 2, 1887." 

EXPERIMENT STATION IDEA. 

Even before the passage of this, the Hatch Act, the experiment station 
idea had taken deep root. 

''The work of Johnson and his associates in Connecticut, Cook in New 
Jersey, Hugh in Pennsylvania, Kedzie, Beal and others in Michigan, Hilgard 
in Mississippi and California, Stockbridge and Goessman in Massachusetts, 
and many others, was notable long before regular experiment stations were 
organized. 

"The agricultural colleges early realized the importance of investigation 
as a necessary part of their work, and, as early as ten years after the passage 
of the land-grant act, these institutions began to agitate, in a convention 
of delegates, the founding of stations for experimental purposes." (2) 

At Michigan Agricultural College experiments by the professors of chem- 
istry, botany, entomology, and later of agriculture began almost with the 
organization of classes. 

In 1863 the plans, execution and results of experiments were reported, 
and previous to July 1, 1888, forty-two bulletins had been published and 
distributed before any funds from the Hatch Act were available, to say 
nothing about large numbers of experiments made and reported previous 
to the numbered bulletins referred to. 

The number of pages of closely condensed matter devoted to experiments 
at early dates, aie as follows: 

In 1863, 8 pages; in 1864, 3 pages; in 1865, 5 pages; in 1866, 12 pages; 
in 1867, 16 pages; in 1868, 107 pages; in 1869, 56 pages and in 1870, 48 
pages. 

On May 11, 1885, two years before the passage of the Hatch Bill, the 
Michigan state legislature passed an act authorizing experiment station 
work, as follows: 

"Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That the State 
Board of Agriculture be, and they are hereby authorized to provide from time 
to time, in bulletin form, for the dissemination among the people of this State, 
and through the medium of the public press the results of experiments made 
in any of the different departments of the Agricultural College, and such 
other information that they may deem of sufficient importance to require 



300 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

it to come to the immediate knowledge of the farmers and horticulturists 
of the State. 

'■'Section 2. The several professors of chemistry, zoology, botany, agri- 
culture, horticulture, and veterinary science, shall at least twice in each 
year, not excluding the president and other professors, prci)are for jniblica- 
tion an article embracing such facts as they may deem of ]uiblic im])ortanc(% 
a coi>y of which shall be simultaneously sent to each and every newsjiai)ei- 
in the State, and to such persons as the State Board of AgricuUure ma}' think 
proper, said i)rofessors to arrange so that at least one of said articles shall 
be sent out as above providetl the hrst week of each and every month in 
each and every year." 

THE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION OF MICHIGAN. 

On the 26th of January, 1888, Michigan Agricultural College organized 
its experiment station under the Hatch law and had availal)le $15,000 to be 
spent by July 1, 1888, and a like amount was to become available each 
succeeding year. President AVillits was made Director; H. G. Keyiiolds, 
Secretary and Treasurer. Each of six professors was to receive $000 per 
year for one-third of his services; viz., Dr. R. C. Ked/ie, Chemist; A. J. 
Cook, Zoologist; W. J. lieal, Botanist; Samuel Johnson, Agriculturist; K. 
A. A. Grange, Veterinarian; L. II. Bailey, Horticulturist. 

The experiment stations in the various states were to be in connection 
with the state agricultural colleges as departments. As the field of agri- 
culture and the sciences bearing on it is a very extensive one, $15,000 a year 
in INlichigan was not suflicient to cover it all and necessarily selections nmst 
be made limiting the work to certain lines. Each of these six professors 
specified what he desired to undertake and their selections are to be found 
on pages 141, 142, 143 t>f the report of the Michigan Board of Agriculturi' 
for 1888. It is not worth while to copy them here, for th(\v were soon modi- 
fied, some of them abandoned, others added, as was to be expected with 
frequent change of directors and of some of the expcrimentors. The ap- 
jH'opriation of money certain to be available for years to come for the ad- 
vani'ement of agriculture was of great moment and in advance of all other 
nations of the earth. 

Since the beginning of the experiment station in 1888, whvu the congres- 
sional approi)riation known as the Hatch Fund became availal>le, INlichigan 
has uniformly followed the plan of selecting a director having nunu*rous 
other duties on his hands. He has either been president of the college, t)r 
a ])rofessor spending nnich time in the class room and ham}uM'ed by numerous 
other duties. Stations in some other states follow the same plan but many 
of the best follow the plan of employing a director to give all or nearl}- all 
of his time to his work. 

After the l*]xperiment Station, supported by the United States government, 
had l.)een going from 1888 to 1892 the State Board voted that all of the work 
should be conducted in the future by but two departments, the ngricultural 
and horticultural insteiul of by six departments as before. The otlu>r de- 
l)artnuMits, chemistry, entomology, botany and veterinary might be called 
on occasionally for assistance. No particular reasons were given for tlu^ 
change. 

It will be remembered that when the experiment station was organiz(Hl, 
Pri>sid(Mit Willits, after consulting all interested, wished to begin with the 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 301 

six professors, each giving one-third of his time to conducting experiments 
and receiving one-third of his salary from experiment station funds. 

When questioned by an instructor, Mr. Henry C'hamberlain, a member 
of the lioard, admitted that most of the best bulletins heretofore had been 
put out by the chemist, the botanist, the entomologist and the veterinarian; 
now they were going to force bulletins to come from the farm and the garden 
by reducing the proportion of service given by other four men to one-sixth 
instead of one-third of their time. Fortunately, the results of this motion 
were of short duration. Dr. Beal was so displeased with the act that he 
urged the Board to relieve him entirely from station work, which they finally 
agreed to do; the other three continued to act. 

Besides these experiments made at the college, sub-stations were established 
in 1888 as follows: 

, In the same year, 1888, a sub-station of fifteen acres was established at 
South Haven in the fruit-belt, the chief object of which was to test the 
varieties of fruits, especially those not likely to be liardy in many other 
portions of the state. From 1889 until the time of his death, the director 
was most fortunate in securing the services of the veteran horticulturist, 
the Hon. T. T. Lyon as manager of the sub-station. 

In 1899 the legislature appropriated $117,000 including $83,000 for the 
Woman's Building and $15,000 for a Dairy building, an amount which was 
considered generous for that period. 

The State of Michigan has in recent years sui)pleniented the funds re- 
ceived from the government by establishing and sui)porting two sub-stations, 
one at Chatham in the northern i)eninsula and one at South Haven. The 
expense of publishing the station bulletins is annually about $1,000 and is 
borne by the College. 

The National Congress in 1905 granted additional aid to the state ex- 
periment stations. The Adams act gave each station $5,000 for the year 
190G, with an increase of $2,000 each year for five years. At the end of that 
time, and therc^after, the appropriation by the general government for each 
exi)(!rim(>nt station became $30,000 j)er annum. 

The one who deserves especial credit for the latter act was the late Hon. 
H. C. Adams, a member of congress from Wisconsin. To him more than 
to any other man, even more than to all other men not ofhcially concerned 
in its passage, is due the credit. President Snyder says: "As a member 
of the executive committee of the National Association of Agricultural 
Colleges and Experiment Stations, I have visited Washington many times 
with other members of the committee during the past three years in behalf 
of this legislation. We always found Mr. Adams at the helm i-eady to confer 
and advise. He was a man of the most remarkable energy, sane and sensible 
at all times. He threw all his energy and even his very life into the passage 
of this act. His untimely death at the Auditorium Hotel. Chicago, on 
July 9th, 1905 (?) brought universal sorrow to all friends of scientific and 
practical agriculture." 

A second Morrill act passed in 1890 gives each year to each land grant 
college $25,000. 

The so-called Nelson Act of March 4, 1907, provided each state in the 
union a sum of five thousand ($5,000) dollars per annum, increased each year 
for four years by an additional sum of five thousand dollars, and thereafter 
by the second Morrill act and the Nelson act, an annual sum of fifty thous- 
and dollars was appropriated for the more complete endowment and main- 
tenance of agricultural colleges established under the act of 1862. 



302 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Thus the sum of eighty thousand ($80,000) dollars per year is appropri- 
ated by the federal government to each state in the union, in addition to 
the proceeds of the original land-grant of 1862, for the endowment of these 
institutions which have been created in different states. 

The present prospects are that these acts of congress are only a beginning 
of what is to follow in^the liberal appropriations for the support of the newer 
education in all the states. 

APPROPRIATIONS BY THE LEGISLATURE. 

While T. C. Abbot was president of the College, expenses were kept small' 
and estimates sent to the legislature were low. 

Note President Abbot concerning estimates for 1872: 

"The estimates are submitted to the good sense of the legislature. They 
are put as low as it was known how to make them. Certainly there was no 
thought of putting in a margin to be cut off. The legislature has not cut 
down the appropriation for current expenses below what the Board of Agri- 
culture has asked, since 1863, when the reduction was $1,000. Nothing 
not absolutely necessary has been asked for but put off to the time when the 
endowment fund can be used for them.' 

The president was sure to state the amount absolute^ needed and what 
it was wanted for. He was apt in stating what other colleges were asking 
and never failed to tell of the good work of our students. 

Year after year the demand for appropriations grew and the legislature 
rrsj)onded more or less wiUingly. 

THE SPECIAL MILL TAX. 

All friends of the College were very much elated over the kind treatment 
received at the hands of the legislature in 1901. The appropriation bill of 
that year granted to the college a tax of one-tenth of a mill on all the taxable 
property of the state, provided that not more than one hundred thousand 
dollars should be paid to the College from this fund during any one year. 

How did the College authorities in 1901 happen to tliink to secure a mill 
tax? They knew the University had tried the plan and found it worked 
well. When Claudius B. Grant was regent of the University in 1873 his 
suggestion to secure a mill tax was approved by President Angell and the 
regents, and they persuaded the legislature to give them the proceeds of the 
one-twentieth of a mill tax on all the taxable property of the state, later 
three times increased. 

Grant was a member of the class of '59, a classmate and chum of the 
writer. In the words of President Angell, "this established a most useful 
precedent. 

"It proved to be a far better plan than the voting of special appropriations 
for a number of objects. It spared the legislature the trouble of scrutinizing 
a large number of specific requests. It also enabled the University authori- 
ties to use the funds granted them more effectively and economically." 

In great emergencies the Agricultural College as well as the University 
solicits special appropriations in addition to the mill tax. For example, in 
1905 in addition to our regular appropriation of one hundred thousand 
dollars annually from the state, the legislature made the following appro- 
priation : 

$9,000 for the Northern Peninsula Experiment Station, 

$20,000 for the experimental work in live stock, 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 303 

$15,000 for a new barn and moving and repairing old ones, 

$55,000 for new dormitory. 

$157,810 was appropriated by tlie removal for two years of the limit 
on the one-tenth mill tax and was used for erecting and equipping an 
additional building. 

MONEY, HOW DOLED OUT. 

From 1857 to 1875 and some years later, money was appropriated in lump 
sums to be divided from time to time by the Board and faculty; then it was 
divided for each six months among departments, according to estimates 
previously made, and what remained at the close of each six months reverted 
to the secretary's office. Later an unused balance was cumulative and kept 
on hand as a partial supply for the next six months. All moneys received 
for animals and produce was promptly turned into the treasury. For a time 
the several amounts to be used by the heads of the different departments 
were made public in the Speculum. More recently each head of department 
is informed by letter how much is at his disposal; even then to draw money 
as needed, a requisition is required signed .by the president and secretary 
and their authorized clerks. 

Thinking to economize, and possibly for other reasons, in 1909 the State 
Board selected a purchasing agent. 

The auditor general, following the plan of the national government re- 
quires a duplicate receipt in advance before the payment of every bill. Be-. 
cause of this plan, the College is unable to purchase small items directly from 
the United States. In such cases the cooperative store makes purchases 
and then sells to the College. 

Secretary A. M. Brown has kindly furnished the remaining portion of this 
Chapter. 

"To any one who will examine Table No. 7 of the Report of the Secretary 
of the State Board of Agriculture for the year 1912-13, it will be clear that 
during the earlier years the financial aid given to the College by the state 
was rather meager, and it will be noted that from 1885 to 1900 no state funds 
were appropriated for current expenses. During that period the running 
expenses of the institution were necessarily confined to the income from the 
Land Grant fund and the small receipts from farm and student fees. 

"It may seem strange, but it is none the less true, that for many years 
the idea of an agricultural college did not appeal strongly to the farmers of 
the state, and, as this interest was always well represented in the legislature, 
it was natural, though indeed unfortunate, that a narrow and parsimonious 
policy should be pursued. There were some notable exceptions to the rule 
of indifference among the farmers, and the College owes much to the active 
friendship of such men as Jonathan J. Woodman of Paw Paw, for many 
3^ears a member and speaker of the house of representatives. As master 
of the State and later of the National Grange, he interested the members in 
the welfare of the College and since that time the Grange has been a strong 
supporter of the institution and has made itself felt in legislation affecting 
agricultural education. In much the same way the Federation of Farmers' 
Clubs has for many years lent its aid in securing generous appropriations. 

"For a good while there has appeared to be some prejudice against the 
existence of an engineering department at the College for the reason that 
engineering is also taught at the University. At the recent session of the 
legislature (1913) this feeling showed itself more strongly than heretofore 
and seemed likely to seriously embarrass the appropriation bill. A bill, 



304 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

increasing the mill tax from one-tenth to one-fifth, was unanimously passed 
by the senate, but the Ways and Means Committee of the house held it 
up and announced that it would not be reported out. 

"When this situation came to the knowledge of the officers of the College, 
they asked for a hearing before the committee and this request was rather 
grudgingly granted. 

"Accordingly, on the 13th of March, a considerable number of the most 
prominent men of the state met at the Capitol to present the needs of the 
College to the members of the Ways and Means Committee. Notable 
among these were Judge Wm. L. Carpenter, an alumnus of the College, 
Judge WiUiams of Allegan, representing the State Bankers' Association, Mr. 
C. E. Bassett of Fennville, Secretary of the State Horticultural Society, Mr. 
John C. Ketchmn, Master of the State Grange, and Mr. George B. Horton 
and Mr. N. P. Hull, Ex-masters of that organization. The federated cham- 
bers of commerce were also represented and the committee was addressed 
by prominent citizens and business men of Lansing and other cities. Al- 
together it was perhaps the most notable and representative body of men 
that ever addressed a legislative committee on the subject of an appropria- 
tion bill. 

"As a direct result of this hearing, the committee in a measure yielded 
to the demand made upon it and reported out the bill at one-sixth instead 
of one-fifth of a mill. While the College officers felt that this was an un- 
warranted cut in the appropriation, yet this could have been overlooked 
had the committee not added, in a spirit of hostility to the engineering 
work, a proviso that the appropriation would be void if more than $35,000.00, 
no matter from what source derived, should be spent on the mechanical and 
engineering division. Such a proviso is absolutely incapable of execution, 
because there is no means by which the cost of educating engineers can be 
separated from the cost of educating students in other courses. 

"It is most unfortunate that two or three men, unacquainted with con- 
ditions, and with an assurance born of ignorance and prejudice, should be 
able to disturb the estabUshed poHcies of a great educational institution. 

"At this time negotiations are under way for a very important addition 
to the College farm. The Board of Agriculture has by legislative authority 
purchased twenty-seven acres of the C. D. Woodbury farm lying adjacent 
to the College athletic field and has leased the remainder, about 209 acres, 
for a period of ten years with an option to purchase. Before the expiration 
of the lease this will doubtless be made part of the College domain and will 
furnish much needed opportunity for expansion." 

Here follows a table prepared by Hon. A. M. Brown, secretary of the State 
Board of Agriculture showing the income of the Michigan Agricultural Col- 
lege from all outside sources from the date of its foundation to the present 
time, June 30, 1913. It will be observed that more than half of this income 
has come from acts of the national government. 



ENDOWMENTS AND APPROPRIATIONS. 



305 





From State Legislature. 


From U. S. Congress. 




Year. 


For current 
expenses. 


For special 
purposes. 


Land sales, 
salt spring 
and swamp 
land grants. 


Morrill act 
of 1862, in- 
terest from 
land grant 
and trespass 


Hatch act 

of 1887, and 

Adams act 

of 1906, 
experiment 

station. 


Morrill act 
of 1890, 
supple- 
mentary- 
endowment. 


Total. 


1855. 






$56,320,00 








$56,320 00 


1856. . 














1857 . . 


$40,000 00 












40,000 00 


1858. 














1859. . 


37,500 00 












37,500 00 


1860. 














1861 . . 


6,500 00 
10,000 00 
9,000 00 
9,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
20,000 00 
20,000 00 
20,000 00 
20,000 00 
18,250 00 

18.250 00 
21,796 00 
13,000 00 
7,688 00 
7.638 00 
6,150 00 
6,150 00 
4,971 80 
4,971 80 
7,249 00 
7,249 00 
8,385 00 
8,385 00 




152 25 

218 97 

407 80 

726 09 

1,156 61 

1,094 27 

7,608 38 

592 49 

17,559 00 

1 ,320 02 

4,135 72 

217 05 

10 13 

150 13 

144 53 

1,773 09 
979 06 
826 60 
712 22 
797 55 
461 95 
358 46 
391 95 

1,259 90 
187 50 








6,652 25 


1862 










10,218 97 


1863. 










9,407 80 


1864. 










9,726 09 


1865. 










16,156 61 


1866. . 










16,094 27 


1867. 










27,608 38 


1868. 










20,592 49 


1869 


$30,000 00 

"i6',566'66 

3,000 00 
15,602 00 
15,602 00 

7,755 50 

6,755 50 
30,686 80 

5,686 80 
16,068 32 

7,068 32 
43,720 50 

8,945 50 
23,793 00 
10.526 00 
35,103 00 
22,617 00 
*44,040 00 

30,752 50 

*20.973 00 

*27,172 00 

22,947 50 

22,947 50 

18,862 50 

18,862 50 

tl9,000 00 

tl6,000 00 

§17,700 00 

1117,500 00 

t8,750 00 

172,500 00 
1f72,500 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 
*8 1,000 00 
*15,000 00 
**1 ,000 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 
**1,000 00 


$58 96 
2,720 93 
3,785 54 

7.175 65 
11,059 06 
14,061 98 
14,446 14 
16,830 17 
15,172 86 
15,807 09 
16,978 22 
17,837 24 
20.935 25 

22.507 45 

30.749 60 
27,909 72 
29,770 40 
30,461 04 

t24,611 37 

32,406 60 
31,322 69 
32,360 64 

34.750 54 
34,948 12 
37,927 04 
44,527 26 
45,301 85 
43,886 40 
43,779 54 

47.508 28 

52.526 11 

72,298 38 
63,976 79 
64,081 81 
65,573 90 
67,312 37 
72,035 32 
70,286 56 
70,155 22 
'70,385 79 

69.527 13 
71,109 49 
70,304 15 
70,265 32 
70,289 30 






67,617 96 


1870. 






24,040 95 


1871 






36,671 26 


1872 






28,642 70 


1873 






48,467 19 


1874. 






42,814 11 


1875 






29,984 17 


1876 






32,996 76 


1877 






52,988 72 


1878 






28,470 49 


1879. 






38,730 56 


1880. 






30,674 91 


1881 






72,366 70 


1882. 






39,060 41 


1883. 






63,319 55 


1884 






48,080 62 


1885. 






65,060 90 


1886. 








53,078 04 


1887 




198 20 

144 20 

10 50 
238 50 

37 38 
137 38 

10 50 
433 59 

10 50 






68,849 57 


1888 




$15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 

15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
15,000 00 
23,691 60 
23,326 10 
26,000 00 
28,000 00 
30.000 00 
30,000 00 
30,000 00 




78,303 30 


1889. 






67,306 19 


1890. 




$15,000 
16,000 
17,000 
18,000 
19,000 
20,000 
21,000 
22,000 
23 ,000 
24,000 

25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
30,000 
35,000 
40,000 
45,000 
50,000 
50,000 


00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 

00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 
00 


89,771 14 


1891. . 




88,735 42 


1892. . 




90,033 00 


1893 . . 




89,800 04 


1894. . 




97,823 35 


1895. . 




99.312 35 


1896. . 




95,886 40 


1897. 






98,479 54 


1898. . 






103,008 28 


1899. . 




705 00 

175 00 


100,981 11 


1900. . 




184,973 38 


1901tt 
1902. . 


■■i66;666'66 

100,000 00 
100,000 00 
100,000 00 
157,810 00 
173,410 00 
173,410 00 
173,410 00 
173,410 00 
173,410 00 
228.800 00 
228,800 00 


176,476 79 




205,081 81 


1903. 




206,573 90 


1904. . 
1905. 


61 19 


208,373 50 
293,035 32 


1906. 




283,096 56 


1907. . 




293,256 82 


1908. 




298,121 89 


1909. . 




304,937 13 


1910. 




313,519 49 


1911. . 




319,714 15 


1912. . 




380,065 32 


1913. . 




380,089 30 








Totals. 


$2,244,543 60 $829,937 74 


$101,723 66 


$1,771,725 27 


$476,017 70 


$645,000 00 $6,068,947 97 

1 



♦Including appropriation for weather service. 

tOctober 1, 1886, to June 30, 1887, nine months. 

ilncluding $5,000 for institutes and $1,000 for weather service. 

illncluding $5,500 for institutes and $1,000 for weather service. 

II Including $5,500 for institutes and $1,000 for weather service. 

§Including $2,750 for institutes and $500 for weather service. 

ttTo June 30 **Weather service. 

39 



306 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE!. 



CHAPTER XXII, IN CONCLUSION. 

This chapter gives an opportunity to present some items left over and to 
pass in review some of the most important conclusions of the preceding 
chapters. 

THE MARKING SYSTEM. 

Until about ten years ago each teacher was required to mark on a scale 
of ten for perfect each recitation during the term. The same scale was 
used for the final examinations; the average of the marks of the term was 
added to the mark for the examinations and divided l)y two, giving what 
was known as the student's rank or standing. 

This plan was succeeded by the one still in vogue, which does not appear 
to be quite so exact, viz., by letters A, B, C, D, F. 

THE COLLEGE BELL. 

Dr. Kedzie in the Heliostat, Junior Annual, Class of '97: 

"I do not know when the l)ell first came to college, but for more than 
thirty-three years it has given tongue to the duties of the hour. Its home 
at first was under the shade of an old oak tree, south of the walk and about 
midway between College Hall and Williams Hall, resting on a rude frame 
about ten feet above ground. Thence it was removed and mounted on a 
stout pine frame in the grove about six rods north of west of the mechanical 
laboratory, close by the open-air gymnasium (trapeze) that developed our 
early athletes. It remained in this place for many years till complaint was 
made that it coukl not be heard on the farm south of the Red Cedar river, 
and there was danger that the boys would exceed the three hours' work then 
required. The college authorities then said to the faithful servant 'Come 
up higher,' and placed it on top of WiUiams Hall. 

"The life of the bell has not been entirely uneventful. When it dwelt 
under the oak, on its frail shelf, somebody would occasionally turn the 
mouth of the bell upward, filling it with water and leaving it so insecurely 
braced that when the bell l3oy came at five o'clock in the morning to ring the 
rousing bell, he 'received a baptism from on high' that did not seem to im- 
prove his religious nature. 

"In 1862 somebody stole the clapper, and the voice of the bell was no 
longer heard. After two days' hilarious hunt a lucky student found the 
clapper. This was restored to its normal position, and 'all went merry as a 
marriage bell.' 

"In 1863 the clapper was again stolen, found, and returned. Frank 
Gulley and Robert Kedzie unscrewed the nut that fastened the clapper in 
the bell, swabbed the inside of the nut and thread of the bolt with solution 
of salammoniac, screwed the nut firmty in place, where it would rust tight, 
riveted the bolt upon the nut, and the clapper has never left the bell since 
that time." 

After years of service the old bell became cracked and failed to answer 
its purpose. A new one took its place. The old original cracked bell is 



IN CONCLUSION. 



307 



hung in the belfry of the village school where it answers a very good purpose, 
saying "Come to school and prepare for college." 

THE FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY. 

On May 13, 1897, the college was forty years old. Memorial exercises 
were delayed until June 17, 1897. 

The chief address was delivered by Hon. George Willard of Battle Creek, 
who was a member of the State Board of Education in 1857, then in charge 
of the College and who was also present at the opening, I note the following 
points : 

"It is but just to also add that the hopes indulged when this college was 
founded have been fully realized. The reality has even gone much beyond 
the expectancy of at least many who projected and inaugurated an under- 
taking which bore in many quarters the imputation of being injudicious and 
hazardous. 

"History has been recording marvelous changes since this College was 




Arboretum in Winter. 

established. Forty years in this age of progress has measured an important 
cycle in the world, in our country, and in our state. When this institution 
took its place as a seat of learning in 1857, in our country, California, then 
recently acquired from Mexico and admitted into the Union, was the only 
state west of the Missouri river. Lincoln had acquired some fame, but had 
yet to win a greater distinction in the debate with Douglas; Grant was 
farming near St. Louis; Garfield had just left college; Blaine, a youthful 
journalist, was editing a newspaper in Mame; Edison, the world's greatest 
electrician and the greatest inventor of our age, was a poor ten-year-old lad 
at Port Huron." 

"Li 1857, Michigan had only become a state twenty j-ears before. 

"The Michigan Agricultural College is just two-thirds as old as Michigan 
herself. The state capital, at the date we are considering, had been at 
Lansing but nine years. The State Normal School had just begun to send 
out its first pupils. The first diploma granted by the LTniversity had gathered 
the dust of not quite a dozen years. The great chasm between the grammar 



308 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

and primary schools on one hand, and the University on the other, stood 
open to be filled by the graded and high school system in the towns and 
cities. 

"It was a common remark that on this ground alone, the legislature in 
selecting the site of the institution had perpetrated a great folly, a charge 
that time had made obsolete, long ago. 

"Forty years since, no college in the United States has been emancipated 
from the idea that it must have a single unvarying curriculum and that no 
one was liberally educated unless he had entered and passed through that 
straight and narrow way by which a chosen few had journeyed to the honors 
of graduation; and yet when a college student had reached all these honors, 
he was really less disciplined in useful training, and less fully equipped with 
needed information than the present graduates from our high schools. A 
college course at Yale or Harvard, and in all institutions which, like the 
University of Michigan followed in their wake, was of one stereotyped 
pattern transmitted from mediaeval times, much better fitted for monks 
and ecclesiastics than for the widening and exacting requirements of practical, 
modern life. Just about the period when this College was opened, the 
American people began to realize the need of directing educational agencies 
to more useful ends and of enlarging the scope of college instruction. 

"That this institution is now. and has been, a most efficient aid to farming 
interests in our State and in the entire country is clear to anyone conversant 
with its record. There is not an agricultural industry in Michigan, or in 
the United states, that has not felt the beneficial touch of its influence, 
either through its class instruction, its scientific experiments; its periodical 
reports and circulars issued by its professors presenting the results of their 
inquiries, the lectures given by the members of its faculty to farmers' in- 
stitutes and other agricultural meetings, the sending forth of alumni into 
all parts of the land as living epistles of the information it imparts, and 
perhaps more than all, in the creation of a public opinion that the world's 
greatest industry merits the application of science and the use of scientific 
methods. 

"The people of Michigan have long since learned that the most practical 
lessons in agriculture, the most profitable, the most money-making in every 
branch of that industry, have come from the professors and graduates of this 
inscitution. 

"The Board chose for the first president of the College, the Hon. Joseph 
R. Williams, who had acquired a notice which may be said to have become 
national, for his forcible and eloquent appeals for the application of science 
to agriculture. 

"This is an age of scientific inquiry; it is an age when knowledge is sought 
for practical uses and when higher education is claiming its place in the 
workshop, in the counting room, on the farm, and in the kitchen. And it 
is especially gratifying that this super or type of education, in this College 
as well as in the University, is now provided for women as well as men. 

"But above all, and greater than all actual science which this College 
teaches, is the spirit of investigation which pervades it, and the welcome 
it gives to truth in every department of knowledge. The range of its studies 
cultivates a tendency to see things as they are. 

"This College presents a model for institutions which must be greatly 
multiplied in the next and succeeding centuries. It symbolizes the era 
of intellectual freedom; it is the product of that practical philosophy which 
comes from modern ideas. Whatsoever may be our regard for the classic 
ideals embodied in ancient literature and art, they cannot hereafter be 



IN CONCLUSION. 309 

made the chief objects of collegiate study. They may have been excellent 
in their time, but the old must give way to the new." 
Other items were passed in review. 

As master of the State Grange, George B. Horton spoke briefiy, I quote: 
"I am proud to stand before you as a representative of a great and in- 
fluencial farmers' organization that has always supported the Agricultural 
College in all its efforts and work. It is gratifying to note that several 
important features of college work have been brought about through the 
suggestions and solicitations of the Grange; notably, the farm Reading 
Circle, admission of girls to full privileges with boys, and the establishment 
of an operative dairy department." 

For the Farmers' Clubs, J. T. Daniels closing sentence was: 
"In conclusion, I feel that I may safely assert that in so far as our State 
Agricultural College holds to the purpose for which it has been established, 
and produces practical results along those lines, the farmer's clubs of Michigan 
will give to it consistent, earnest, practical and loyal support." 

LARGE CLASSES AND CHEAP TEACHERS. 

This unfortunate condition is referred to elsewhere and is Ukely to occur 
when the increase in the number of students is rapid. The increase of ex- 
penses may appal president and Board and legislature, inducing them to 
"get along in some way" as cheaply as possible, as was the custom when 
Dr. Abbot presided, and there is danger that this will become a fixed habit. 
This topic has frequently been referred to in my reports to the president — 
the danger of yielding to the tendency by shortening the periods of laboratory 
work, enlarging the sections, employing cheap instructors often changed, 
thus reducing the quality of the work to about tha:t in most high schools. 
The same conditions have also been referred to by other members of the 
faculty. 

Read Dean G. W. Bissell's report for 1908: 

"Table 6 gives certain information concerning the number, grade and 
salaries of the instructing force at several periods in the last twenty years 
or so of the College history. By way of summary it may be noted that 
in 1885, there were twelve professors (including assistant professors) for 
173 students, or one professor for fifteen students. In the past year there 
were thirty professors and assistant professors for 1,911 students, or one 
professor for thirty-nine students; the total instruction force in the past 
year was eighty-one, being one instructor for fifteen students. Adding to 
the number of professors those ot instructor grade who receive as much 
salary as some assistant professors, there were thirty-eight high grade in- 
structors during the past year, or one for thirty-one students. A legitimate 
conclusion from these figures is that the efficiency of our instruction has been 
materially and seriously reduced. 

"These figures, after making all allowances for varying conditions, are 
significant and point forcibly to the necessity of increasing the salary budget 
for this institution, both as a total and as a scale for the several grades, if 
we would maintain our reputation as a high grade institution. 

"The ideal scheme of salaries should include a plan of promotion in the 
several grades, so that new men would know what prospects are before 
them if they render satisfactory service. Under the present arrangements 
at this college we frequently cannot attract desirable men, not only because 
of low initial salaries but also because of indefiniteness of reward for good 
effort." Dean Bissell summarizes the views of nearly all, if not all heads of 
departments. 



310 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




Half-way Rock and Cherry Tree. 



IN CONCLUSION. 311 

Two stanzas from Frank Hodgman, class of '62: 

"When half the toilsome way was passed, we rested by the stone 

Within whose cleft a cherry pit had taken root and grown; 

The cleft was not so very wide; just half an inch or so; 

The little tree scarce touched its side some forty years ago. 

Forty years ago : Forty years ago : 
The cleft has spread ; the tree has grown since forty years ago. 

"And then we sowed that turnip seed. The yarn went all around 
About such lots and lots of seed sowed on so little ground ; 
And as it grew, each mother's son who went along the plank 
Declared the college must be run by some half-witted crank. 

Forty years ago : Forty years ago : 
Their lies were thicker'n turnip plants were forty years ago." 

SMALL SALARIES AT MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

There is not a college or university in the United States that does not oc- 
casionally meet with the loss of some of her most valuable professors right 
in the prime of active and successful service, — the lower the salar}^ paid the 
greater risk of such a loss. The salaries at the Agricultural College have 
always been low when compared with those at the University, and with a 
considerable number of the best agricultural colleges in the land, perhaps 
in our case because the institution was young and small and was a farmers' 
college, yet for efficiency, several of the positions at an agricultural college 
are most exacting. I need not give examples; every member of the State 
Board has them in mind. There isn't a shadow of a doubt that Michigan 
Agricultural College has fallen behind owing to the repeated loss of some of 
her best men, to say nothing of selecting and retaining men who were in- 
efficient. Especially is this true where the professor has charge of a farm, 
domestic animals, a campus, orchards, and garden and in addition to all 
this must have oversight of a laboratory and conduct experiments. As 
formerly stated more than once, when a good man lays down his work it 
often takes two or three years for his successor to gather up the threads 
and begin anew. In this way thousands of dollars have been lost, which, 
if added to retain the good men in the harness, would be economy in the end. 

During the forty years beginning 1870, there were ten different professors 
of agriculture, and ten professors of horticulture, an average of four years 
to each. Think of it! There is no doubt that the growth of this College 
has been retarded fully fifteen years by a number of injudicious appointments 
and by frequent changes of the members of the faculty. 

Perhaps unavoidable, but as the writer sees it, one of the greatest mis- 
takes for all concerned was settling. down to the idea that the salaries paid 
professors in this College must be kept lower than hose of the University. 

WHAT IS COLLEGE SPIRIT? 

One wise M. A. C. teacher repUed, "It is making a h 1 of a noise about 

athletics." In the writer's opinion it does not consist entirely in loud cheering 
at banquets or on the grand stand in front of a winning game by our team,— 
these things encourage some peojDle. Let me be personal by giving an ex- 
ample: In '59 I graduated in a class of thirty-nine men at the U. of M. 
and knew intimately every member of the class. We were not noisy boys. 



312 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

While a student, I held the University in high esteem and that esteem has 
not grown less. Two years later I began a post-graduate study in botany 
and zoology at Harvard, working for one year with students fewer than 
fifteen in number. The second year there were only three of us. None of 
us were training in athletics, yet, I still retain something akin to devotion 
to Harvard University. 

Can I not call this college spirit in the best sense? 

In 1908, at a meeting of a number of scientific societies held in Chicago, 
the professor of botany at Cornell, Atkinson, voluntarily remarked to the 
writer that the agricultural college of Cornell exhibited more loyalty than 
any other one of the colleges composing the university. L. H. Bailey in 
1908 wrote: 

"I think it is generally recognized that the most solidified and enthusiastic 
college spirit in Cornell University is in the college of agriculture. This is 
due in part to the fact that the faculty and students are aware that agri- 
cultural education in the past has not been considered to be of equal academic 
grade with other means of education. Every person connected with the 
college feels that special obligation rests on him to make the college of agri- 
culture a wholly worthy unit in a great university, in which all kinds of human 
affairs are likely to be contending for acknowledgment or supremacy. This 
puts the students and others on their mettle. This kind of productive, but 
conservative enthusiasm is, I think, quite unknown in the separate agri- 
cultural colleges because they make their own standards, and in a way are 
sufficient unto themselves." 

He says "College spirit is the soul of an institution." A writer in the 
Ohio State Lantern quoted in the M. A. C. Record Feb. 25, '08 says: 

"College spirit does not consist entirely of attendance at games with a 
megaphone ready to root for the home team. It is not confined to this 
ostentatious exhibition of enthusiasm. In fact, this forms a very small 
part of the true college or university spirit. The real spirit and the spirit 
that counts is that which shows the willingness to work for the institution 
which is represented by the worker and a spirit which is willing to sacrifice 
self-interest at times for the sake of alma mater. 

Kenyon L. Butterfield, '91, President of Massachusetts Agricultural 
College says : 

" College spirit is difficult to describe. It is a real thing but it is intangible. 
It may not always manifest itself in the same fashion. 

"It seems to me that in general it may be said to be the community idea 
with the college as the concrete object of devotion, as over and against the 
personal and selfish interest. It is the expression of the thought 'not what 
I can get, but what I can give.' It has several prominent characteristics. 

"1. Loyalty to the best interests of the college. 

"2. A sense of honor which craves a reputation for the college based on 
real spirit. 

"3. A spirit of co-operation which shows itself in willingness to work 
with other students, with alumni, with faculty, and with the trustees for 
progressive steps. 

"4. The lopping off of an undue spirit of criticism and an undue spirit 
of independence. 

"5. Enthusiasm for college activities and college triumphs not only in 
athletics, but in scholarship and in all the work of the institution. 

"6. A real affection which personalizes the college, and which brings 
men back to it full of sentiment and real devotion. Out of this should spring 



IN CONCLUSION. 313 

a spirit of sacrifice, not only in the college, but in future days, and a willing- 
ness to help whenever the college needs help." 

In speaking at the Ward-A banquet one night in 1911, Inspector Bow- 
ditch brought out some points that would make phases of our college spirit 
appear to be far superior to that of any other time in the history of our 
college. "Never before have the men in the dormitory pulled together 
as they are right now. Scarcely five years ago a man did not dare to leave 
his room without locking the door, lest he not only suffer the loss of several 
articles of furniture from 'stacking,' but that he might not have his property 
actually stolen. In comparison to this, to-day we find men leaving their 
rooms unlocked from one term to another. Thefts are unheard of. We 
do not even have a picture of a 'stacked' room. Furthermore, the fellows 
are more closely associated and enjoy a fellowship that was not equalled when 
dorm rooms were mere stopping places, instead of living rooms." 

Even with the most fortunate management, however, any college is liable 
at any time to have one or more students who steal or carouse. 

NAME OF THE COLLEGE. 

Long ago when first organized this college was named State Agricultural 
College. 

In 1909 by an act of the legislature, the name was changed to read Michi- 
gan Agricultural College. 

While yet no other division than that of agriculture had been inaugurated 
at this state institution. The Speculum in October, 1884, observed: 

"A change in the name that would imply the scientific as well as the 
agricultural character of the school, and the use of proper and sufficient 
means to make the college widely known and understood as it is, and as not 
wholly agricultural, would, it can hardly be doubted, result in a large in- 
crease in the number of students." 

In his address to the Alumni Association in 1897, C. B. CoUingwood, '85, 
said: 

"Personally, I wish we could change the name of our college, broaden it. 
I would like to have it called the 'Michigan School of Applied Science!' We 
received this million of dollars from the federal government for a broader 
purpose than a mere school of agriculture." 

In the writer's addresses to associations of the alumni in Chicago, Detroit, 
Grand Rapids, Washington, Boston, and elsewhere, he referred to the name 
of Michigan Agricultural College as no longer suitable for the institution at 
East Lansing. It is a name that all the older conservatives cling to, but in 
time these will all disappear, and the younger alumni will consist of persons 
not only of the division of agriculture, but of the division of engineering, 
the division of home economics, for forestry, and later for veterinary 
medicine, not to mention the sixth division of arts and sciences liable at 
any time to be established, and perhaps others to follow. Why not have a 
division of athletics? 

Iowa, Pennsylvania, Mississippi have made changes in name. The name 
State College would do equal justice to each division at East Lansing. 

In April, 1901, Dr. Howard Edwards in the M. A. C. Record has this to 
say: 

" It is as unwise to expect a mechanical engineer to be satisfied with grad- 
uating from the Agricultural College, as to demand of an attorney-at-law 
that he take pride in displaying his LL. B. diploma from the 



314 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

dental college. There is only one strong argument in favor of a retention 
of the present name, and that is the halo of glorious achievement that shines 
above the old name. It is under this name that it has fought its battles 
and won its victories. Fifty years of history hallow this name. The long 
line of honored alumni bear M. A. C. on their diplomas and have used the 
name all along as their rall3dng battle cry. Shall we leave all this and go 
after strange gods — cut ourselves off from all the past and trust ourselves 
to make a new past out of the present and the future? 

"The name becomes deceptive and the seriousness of the deception in- 
creases in geometrical ratio with the importance and size of the institution. 
We have fifty years behind us, but our faces are toward the long years of the 
future. Shall we sacrifice the hallowed past or the unknown but flattering 
future? It is hard to choose, but wisdom leaves us no doubt what the choice 
should be." 

The engineering division was founded in 1885 and has rapidly increased 
in size and importance. Not long after students of this division began to 
chafe, on the ground that they Avere looked on with suspicion when seeking 
employment. 

On the morning of November 28, 1911, students getting up found posters 
under the doors wdth large headUnes—" Michigan State College" or "Michi- 
gan Agricultural College," followed by one or two reasons why the name 
should be changed and urging students to get new songs and yells and use 
them at the next mass meeting. 

In 1907, when the new act governing the College was considered for pre- 
sentation to the legislature Dean Bissell met with the Board of Agriculture 
and gave some reasons for change of name. The Board decided adversely. 
On the first week of December a meeting of senior engineers was called, a 
week later an association was organized, and enthusiastic meetings followed. 
On December 8, the engineering society held a banquet where toasts were 
served by Dean Bissell vnth plans for placing the matter before the state 
legislature. This kind of agitation is going on in Oregon and Kansas and 
probably elsewhere. Extension work has tended to popularize the agri- 
cultural division over that of the engineering division not thus advertised. 

COLLEGE ETHICS. 

A good point in favor of President Snyder's administration is here men- 
tioned: In recent years, through the students' council, the director of 
athletics and committees of the faculty, barbarous hazing of many sorts 
has been changed to orderly sport conducted in broad daylight. Details 
of the program are liable to change from year to year, but the ceremonies 
consist in physical contests between the sophomores and freshmen, such as 
a canvas pull, tug of war, and flag rush. 

Hazing has no redeeming feature to commend it. President James of 
Illinois says: "The habit injures the prestige of the university, and holds 
the institution in the public mind among the half-baked universities of the 
country; keeps away from the university some of the best material which 
would otherwise come to it; makes it difficult to get public appropriations; 
stirs up antagonism toward the institution in many quarters and is the 
cause of joy to the critics and enemies of the university." 

OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES. 

As the college has grown older, there has been a marked increase in the 
number of activities outside of the legitimate pursuit of the courses of study. 



IN CONCLUSION. 315 

The advent of these activities, the writer feels confident, is the cause of a 
decHne in the proportion of good scholars. Doubtless the same is true with 
many other colleges and universities. There are more sons and daughters 
of the rich who attend high schools and colleges chiefly for the purpose of 
having a good time, as John 0. Reed, Dean in the University of Michigan, 
says in the M. A. C. Record November 23, 1909: 

"The intellectual hoboes and loafers come generally from families of good 
circumstances, and are just as much undesirable students as the professional 
hobo is an undesirable citizen. They exert an influence directly counter to 
the educational and scholarly atmosphere of the institution to which they 
attach themselves. 

"The intellectual hobo is at the bottom of every surprising outbreak of 
disorder. He may be an athlete or a fop, or both combined." 

The Editor of the Holcad for January 14, 1913, says: "Life has lots more 
m it than Bijous and parties and J. Hops. There are many things worth 
while, though they may not be stunning." 

CO-OrERATION OF UNIVERSITY. AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND STATE 

MINING SCHOOL. 

In December, 1911, at the suggestion of Governor Osborn, President 
Harry B. Hutchins of the University, President J. L. Snyder of the Agri- 
cultural College and President F. W. McNair of the College of Mines, met in 
Detroit with the view of attempting to reduce the overlapping of courses, to 
reduce the cost of maintenance, and make plans for co-operation. Forestry 
and engineering are taught in the University and at the Agricultural College. 
Future meetings were held at the University, at the Agriculture College and 
at the School of Mines. 

In the past discussions of this kind have received much attention at Har- 
vard and Yale, where in each case a scientific school was made a portion of 
the University. Even at the Agricultural College during the forty years 
while the writer was a member of the faculty, there was mucli discussion 
regarding the repetition of certain subjects by different departments. - Es- 
pecially was this conspicuous on the appointment of a new member of the 
faculty. 

Most of the overlapping and repetition by different departments is the 
outcome of different views taken by different persons and is not. so objection- 
able as it might first appear to be. 

The main argument against the establishing by the state of a second 
normal school was that the equipment and teaching were a needless repeti- 
tion, that this repetition would injure the institution at Ypsilanti. The re- 
sults have proved otherwise. 

Methods of teaching were given prominence at Ypsilanti from the start, 
yet the University, only ten miles distant, long ago established a department 
to engage in much the same kind of work. The State Normal College has 
continued to grow and become more efficient. 

In an earlier chapter, the writer referred to the rules for conduct of the 
students in force during the administration of Presidents Fisk antl Abbot — : 
rules making attendance at chapel compulsory and forbidding dancing and 
card-playing. In another place he referred to the giving up of chapel ex- 
ercises, and to the frequency of dances at parties; in fact the attitude of most 
educated people has changed in a marked degree during the last thirty-five 
years. Dr. Hinsdale has mentioned similar conditions of things in liis History 
of the University: 



Si6 ttlS'fORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL C0LLEGE5. 

"The University has shared in the unmistakable movement of the last fifty 
years. The ecclesiastical habit of mind has to a great extent given away to 
the scientific spirit; the institutions and functions of the state have become 
more secular; even the denominational schools have not preserved their 
ancient character; clergymen are less numerous relatively in faculties and 
on boards of control ; the rules that were cheerfully obeyed by the student of 
the old institutions would produce an instant revolt if an effort were made 
to enforce them to-day. 

Daily prayers were maintained with a relatively small and slowly dimin- 
ishing attendance, until 1895, when they were discontinued." 

AIMS or THE COLLEGE. 

This College is one of the chain of colleges, one in each state, endowed 
with the spirit of investigation, the laboratory method of teaching, with 
special reference to training students for efficiency. 

In the words of Dean Davenport it is one of those that ''have developed 
into public service institutions of the widest scope and greatest magnitude." 

These methods are gradually being introduced and followed by the fore- 
most universities of this country. 

It is not probable that these land-grant colleges will receive liberal gifts 
of money direct from wealthy persons; they are not purely state colleges 
but receive half or more of their support from the United States government. 
This is a distinct advantage, as it tends to stability and progress. 

At the convention of the Association of American Agricultural Colleges 
and Experiment Stations held in November, 1910, a standing committee 
made a long and very important report on extension work. Here are the 
names of the committee: 

K. L. Butterfield, President of Massachusetts Agricultural College. 

C. R. Van Hise, President of Wisconsin University. 

C. F. Curtiss, Dean of Agriculture in Iowa Agricultural College. 

W. C. Latta, Superintendent of Farmers' Institutes for Indiana. 

A. M. Soule, President of the College of Agriculture, Georgia. 

E. A. Burnett, Dean of the College of Agriculture of the University of 
Nebraska. 

The names of half of this committee, including the chairman, appear in 
the hst of alumni of Michigan Agricultural College — Butterfield, Latta, 
Burnett. In the past the writer has often handed notes to the Record 
mentioning the achievements of graduates of M. A. C. He could now fill 
a page, or indeed, the whole of the paper, mentioning the acts of worthy 
graduates distinguished for their very able efforts in agricultural education. 
This condition of things cannot be accidental. The faculty and Board of 
Agriculture would do well to investigate this subject and if possible discover 
the reasons for this prominence and then see to it that the supply of such 
persons is kept up. Most of the names referred to appear among those grad- 
uating between 1861-1896. What are the reasons for this prominence? 
Was it due to the habit of going in and out of old College Hall? Had com- 
pulsory manual labor anything to do with it? Was it due to the courses of 
study, methods of study, methods of teaching, character of the teachers, 
wisdom of the Board of Agriculture? Was it due to the quality of pabulum 
forbody and mind, the simple life in dress and furnishing of rooms, the 
giving of less time to social functions., the absence of athletic contests with 
students of other colleges? 



IN CONCLUSION. 317 

Can any one or more of the above be the reasons for the success of such a 
large proportion of alumni? 

Besides learning from text books and lectures, students did things in 
laboratory, shop and field. The training for efficiency was always kept 
prominent. Not only were students taught to think and acquire knowl- 
edge for themselves, but they tried to perform certain important tasks in 
care of crops, feeding animals, conducting experiments and making machines. 

During this period of thirty-five years, six to eight or more of the professors 
were business men at the same time they were teachers, and this gave the 
students an extra good chance. 

M. A. C. UNFORTUNATE. 

As a last word permit the writer to again mention some of the leading 
things which seem to him to have prevented a more rapid development — 
beginning in the woods; having no model to follow; the distracting influences 
of the civil war; repeated unsuccessful efforts to remove the College and 
unite to the University; low salaries, making it difficult to secure and re- 
tain the best men ; compulsory manual labor for pay without sufficient number 
of competent instructors; unfortunate appointments of some incompetent 
persons. 

M. A. C. has been fortunate in persisting in a small way, still learning to 
avoid mistakes and seek new devices, in beginning institutes and other kinds 
of extension work, in having the active support of the State and National 
Grange, in becoming one of the land-grant colleges with increasing endow- 
ments from Congress. 



318 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION. 

From 1857 to March 15, 1861, the college was under the control of the 
State Board of Education, appointed by the governor. 

SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, EX-OFFICIO. 

*Ira Mayhew (1855-59). He was born March 22, 1814, at ElHsburg, 
Jefferson county. New York; married Adeline Sterling August 26, 1838; was 




IRA MAYHEW. 

educated in the common school and L'^nion Academy, Belleville; a demo- 
crat until 1854, after which he was a republican. He taught school from 
1832 to 1836; principal of Adams Academy 1837 to 1841; superintendent of 
schools in Jefferson county, New York; came to Michigan in 1843 and be- 
came principal of the Monroe branch of the University; state superintendent 
of public instruction 1845 to 1849; pubUshed Means and Ends of Universal 
Education; A Treatise on Book-Keeping. He was principal of Albion Sem- 
inary 1852; state superintendent of public instruction 1855-1859; estab- 
lished Albion Commercial College, and later moved it to Detroit; collector 
of internal revenues for the third district of Michigan 1862-1865. 
He died at Detroit, Michigan, April 7, 1894. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



319 



Children: Ellen Emma, died 1907; Frances, born June 9, 1844, died 
Jan. 20, 1870. She became the wife of H. H. Sutton. They had three 
children, one of whom is John Mayhew Sutton, 100 Englewood Ave., Detroit, 
Michigan (1911). 

*JoHN Milton Gregory (1859-61). He was born at Sand Lake, Van 
Renssalaer county. New York, July 6, 1822. His father's name was Joseph. 
He married (1) Julia Gregory, a distant cousin, at Sand Lake, New York 
in 1846: she died at Buffalo, New York in 1877; (2) His second wife was 
Louisa Allen at Champaign, lUinois in 1881. 

He was a Baptist and a republican; educated at Ann Academy, Pough- 
keepsie. New York, and Union College at Schenectady, New York; LL. D. 
from the University of Wisconsin. He was pastor of churches at Little Falls, 
New York; Akron, Ohio and Ann Arbor, Michigan; principal of a Latin school 




JOHN MILTON GREGORY. 



in Detroit; editor of the Michigan Journal of Education: state superintendent 
of public instruction of Michigan 1859-61; about 1860 gave a brief course of 
lectures to seniors of University of Michigan; president of Kalama/oo Col- 
lege; president of Illinois Industrial University, later called State University; 
United States Commissioner for Illinois to the World's Fair at Paris 1878; 
member of the board of health for Illinois; member of the board of the United^ 
States Civil Service Commission under President Arthur; travelled for two 
years for the trustees of the Peabody Fund inspecting institutions for ed- 
ucating negroes. 

Children: By first wife: Mary EmeUne, Walter, Helen Barber, Alfred 
Gregory, Kansas City, Mo.; John, Grant, JuUa. By second wife: Allene. 



320 



History of Michigan agricultural college. 



MEMBERS BY APPOINTMENT OF THE GOVERNOR. 

*HiRAM LiNDSLEY MiLLER (1857-58). He was bom January 28, 1804, at 
Morristowri, New Jersey. 

He married Adeline Little of Avon, New York, June 6, 1830. He was 
educated at the academy in Morristown, and the Theological Seminary at 
Auburn, New York. In religion he was a Presbyterian, in politics a re- 
publican. He was ordained a minister soon after graduation, and preached 
at Avon; next at Brighton, which later was a part of Rochester, New York; 
Trumensburg, New York; then in 1836 he preached at Saginaw, Michigan, 
where he soon ceased this occupation on account of throat trouble 
and engaged in a variety of useful occupations incident to a pioneer life. 

Mrs. Miller, daughter of Dr. Charles Little, was born at Avon, New York, 
November 30, 1810; educated at the Ontario Female Seminary. The value 




HIRAM LINDSLEY MILLER. 

of Mr. Miller's work in Saginaw for sixty years and that of his wife for fifty- 
three years, in shaping social and moral tendencies in the hamlet in the wilder- 
ness can scarcely be estimated. She died July 27, 1889. He was twice a mem- 
ber of the legislature; a member of a constitutional convention; filled various 
offices of city and county. Li 1857-58 he was a member of the State Board 
of Education, then in charge of the Agricultural College, and he was president 
of the Board, made a short speech and presided at the dedication of College 
Hall May 13, 1857. He died at Saginaw, Michigan, May 16, 1896. 

He had one son, Norman L. Miller, who furnishes the above information 
and a photograph. In 1912 the son's address was 416 South Michigan, 
Saginaw, West Side. 

*JoHN Russell Kellogg (1857-61). He was the son of Jesse Kellogg of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



321 



New Hartford, Conn., and Susanna (Griswold) K., of the same town. He 
was born in New Hartford, Conn., May 16, 1793. He married Mary Ot- 
terson of New York City. 

In religion he was a Presbyterian, in poUtics a Whig, and then a Republi- 
can. He went to Oneida county, New York in 1823; next to Marcellus, New 
York; to Allegan, Michigan, in 1839, where he was a merchant and land 
agent, and a politician of much prominence; a member of the legislature in 
1836; associate justice 1844. 

In 1857-61 he was a member of the State Board of Education, then in 
charge of the Agricultural College and chairman of that body. He con- 
tributed a portion of the reports for the College in 1859-1860. 




JOHN RUSSELL KELLOGG. 

He died in Allegan, Michigan, March 13, 1868, aged 75 years. 

Children: Amanda Norton, Eliza Falconer, John Glover, Andrew James 
and William Thompson. Information was furnished by his grandson, Karl 
Kellogg, son of John Glover Kellogg, president and treasurer of Howard 
Thermostat Company, Oswego, New York. 

*George Willard (1857-61). He was the son of Allen Willard of Vermont, 
and Ehza (Barron) W. He was born March 20, 1824, at Bolton, Vermont, 
and came to Battle Creek in 1836. He died at Battle Creek, Michigan, 
March 26, 1901. 

He married (1) Emily Harris, April 10, 1844, at Battle Creek, Michigan. 
She was born in the State of New York, educated at Burnt Hills, New York. 
41 



322 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



She died October 4, 1885; (2) Elizabeth A. (name not complete), 1887, 
Chicago, Uhnois. She died in 1909. 

He was a graduate from Kalamazoo College and an excellent scholar. 
During his active life he was successively an Episcopal clergyman, professor 
of Latin in Kalamazoo College, from 1856-60 a member of the State Board of 
Education. For four years this board was in charge of the Agricultural 
College, and Mr. Willard contributed largely toward its establishment. At 
its fortieth anniversary in 1898, Mr. Willard showed his unfailing interest 
in the College by contributing a fine address, full of hope and encouragement. 

In 1863, he was elected regent of the University of Michigan, which office 
he held for two years. Always radical and progressive, Mr, Willard drew 
up the resolution opening the University to women, which was adopted, and 
he was largely instrumental in securing the services of President Angell to 




GEORGE WILLARD. 



the University. In 1866, he was elected to the legislature, serving as chair- 
man of the Committee on Education in the house, and in the following year 
was appointed to the same position in the constitutional convention, of 
which he was a member. In 1872, he was appointed a member of the Cen- 
tennial Board of Finance, and in the same year was a delegate at large to the 
national republican convention at Philadelphia. In the fall of that year, 
Mr. Willard was nominated by his party for representative in the forty-third 
congress, and was elected by the remarkable majority of 7,547. He at once 
took high rank as a speaker. 

In person he was of medium height, erect, robust figure, with a finely 
developed head, blue eyes, and clear-cut intellectual features. His manner 
was dignified, and as a conversationalist, he was charmingly entertaining 
and instructive. In all that tended to the development and progress of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



323 



Battle Creek, Mr. Willard took a deep interest, and contributed largely by 
voice and pen, as well as in other ways, to its prosperity. He was a man 
of strictest integrity, 'with the courage of his convictions,' as a gentleman 
in the truest sense of the word; Mr. Willard was deserving of the high regard 
and esteem in which he was held by all whom he honored with his friendship. 

Dr. Kedzie attended the memorial services and spoke upon "Political 
Leadership," and in reference to Mr. Willard said: 

"We first became acquainted in the political campaign of 1856. He was 
a lover of liberty and believed in it with all his heart. He denounced slavery 
and the efforts made by some to stop him, met with no success. No mat- 
ter where he was, he was ever the advocate of education. He was a quick 
scholar and a patient philosopher. The world is richer that Mr, Willard 
lived and it is poorer that he died." 




WITTER JOHNSTON BAXTER. 



Children: Charles Simeon, died in early childhood; Anelia Frances, Mrs. 
Charles D. Brewer, Battle Creek (1911); Lilla Estelle, Mrs. Ephriam W. 
Moore, Benton Harbor; George Barron, Battle Creek. 

*WiTTER Johnston Baxter (1857-61). He was the son of Levi and Lois 
(Johnston) Baxter, was born at Sidney Plains, Delaware county, New York, 
June 18, 1816. Mr. Baxter's paternal great grandfather served during the 
entire Revolutionary War, enlisting as a private and attaining the rank of 
captain. 

In 1831 the subject of this sketch came with his father's family to what 
was then the Territory of Michigan, making a home first at Tecumseh, where 
they remained for five years, when they removed to White Pigeon; thence, 
in 1848, to Jonesville. Mr. Baxter received his education in the common 
schools of Sidney Plains, New York, and Tecumseh, Mich., and at the 
branches of Michigan University in Tecumseh, White Pigeon, and Detroit. 



324 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

The honorable degree of A. M. was conferred u]X)n him by the Univerisity. 
In 1836, he engaged in teaching, was for one year principal of the Collegiate 
Institute at Ontario, Ind. During ]\Ir. Baxter's residence in Detroit, he Avas 
a working member of the Young Men's Society, and served upon its board 
as director and as president. At Jonesville hv entered into business with 
W. W. Murphy. 

He has been from its organization a member of the firm of Grosvenor 
A: Co., Jonesville; and has been identifietl with the social, educational and 
l)usiness hiterests of that progressive town. In 1852, ]\Ir. Baxter was mar- 
ried to Alice Beaumont, a grand-daughter of INIyron Holly, who will long be 
rememliered as prominent among the earliest and most uncompromising 
advocates of the abolition of American slavery. Mrs. Baxter died in 1872. 
Connected from his boyhood with the Presbyterian church, Mr. Baxter has 
ever been a staunch adherent to its princijiles, and is well known as a faithful 
and efficient Sunday school worker. 

In 1857 he was appointed by Gov. Bingham a member of the State Board of 
luhication, and was elected to the position for four successive terms of six 
y(virs each, serving for twelve years as president. He was secretary of the 
State Board of Geological Survey from its establishment to his resignation 
in 1881. Originally a Whig, he has been connected Avith the Ilepubliean 
l)arty from its organization. He was elected state senator from the ninth 
district for the biennial term 1877-8. He has been, during his residence in 
.lonesville, a member of the State Agricultural Society serving one term as 
l)resid(>ut. He was an active member of the orders of Free Masons and 
Odd Fellows, in Masonry having attained the degree of Knight Templar. 
In March, 1881, he was elected secretar}- of the State Boanl of Corrections 
and Charities; also a member of the pioneer society, and once president of 
that society. 

From 1857-01, Mr. Baxter was a trustee of the Agricultural College under 
the title State Board of Education. While a member of the executive com- 
mittee of the State Agricultural Society he still showed his deep interest in 
the College. (Mostly copied from the report of the Michigan Pioneer and 
Historical Societv, A'olunu> 4.) 

Children: :Mrs. ]<]llen 15. P(>al)ody; Hotel Del Sol, 2721 Portland Place, 
Los Angeles, Cahfornia (1912). 

*Edwin Willits. 18G1. See President. 



II. STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 

Since March 15, 1861, the College has been under the control of the State 
Board of Agriculture. Their time of office is six years. In case of vacancy 
by death or resignation, the Board fills vacancies. The president of the 
College has always been ex-officio a meml^er of the Boartl. From March 
15, 1861 to 1909, the governor was ex-officio a member of the Board. Since 
1909, the superintendent of public instruction has lu'cn ex-officio a member 
of the Boanl. 

The first six members were createtl by an act of the legislature, iiitvv which, 
imtil 1909, they were appointed by the governor by the consent of the senate, 
two being appointed (>ach second year. From 1909 to 1910, there were 
seven members of the Board. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



325 



MEMBERS EX-OFFICIO. 

*AusTiN Blair (1861-65), was born at Caroline, Tompkins county, New 
York, February 8, 1818, son of George and Rlioda (Beaeknian) Blair. He 
was educated at Hamilton and Union Colleges and was graduated Bachelor 
of Arts from the latter in 1889. Upon receiving his degree he at once began 
the study of law and was admitted to the l)ar in 1841. He then came west 
and settled at Jackson, Michigan. He began his political career as a cam- 
paign orator for Henry Clay in 1844. The following year he was elected to 
the lower house of the Michigan legislature and was there instrumental in 
securing the abolishment of capital punishment in the state. He was an 
ardent Free Soil man, and later was a participant in the formation of the 
Republican party. In 1855 he was a member of the state senate. He was 




AUSTIN BLAIR. 



elected governor of the state in 1860, and again in 1862, and was widely 
known as the War Governor. In 1866 he was elected to congress, and was 
re-elected in 1868, and again in 1870. In 1881 he was chosen Regent of the 
University, and served the full term of eight years from January 1. He was 
one of the ablest, most conscientious, and most efficient members that ever sat 
in the Board, The Regents of the University conferred upon him the degree 
of Doctor of Laws in 1890. He died at his home in Jackson, August 6, 1894. 
The next year the legislature provided for the erection of a memorial statue 
of him in the Statehouse grounds at Lansing. A son, Charles A. (A. B. 1876,) 
after serving one term as attorney-general of the state, was a justice of 
the supreme court of Michigan. There were three other children: George 
H. (died April 10, 1903); Fred J., now of Washington, D. C, and Austin I., 
of New York City. 



32G 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



* (Taken by permission from the History of Michigan by B. A. Hinsdale and 
I. N. Demmon). 

The lands for the endowment of the Agricultural College were selected by 
the agents appointed and instructed by Governor Blair. The most chari- 
table explanation to be put on the selection of so large a proportion of jack 
pine lands is this, that the Governor was no judge of farming land or land 
well covered by valuable timber. 

*Henry Rowland Crapo (1865-68), son of Jesse C., of Dartmouth, 
Massachusetts, and Phebe Rowland of the same place, was born at Dart- 
mouth, Mass., May 24, 1804. 

He married Mary Ann Slocum June 9, 1825; she was educated at Friend's 
School, Newport, R,hode Island. Mr. Crapo's attendance in school was 




HENRY ROWLAND CRAPO. 



limited, consisting of three weeks in a small country school, as reported by 
his grandson, Henry H. Crapo, of New Bedford, Mass. 

In religion he was called "Christian," in politics a Republican from the 
time the party was organized. He was school teacher at Dartmouth, Mass. ; 
in succession he was surveyor, treasurer of an insurance company, and 
treasurer of the city of New Bedford, Mass.; moved to Michigan about 1853 
and engaged extensively in lumbering. He was mayor of Flint; governor of 
Michigan 1865-69; and president of the State Board of Agriculture during 
this period. 

He was an enthusiast in horticulture and agriculture; a voluminous con- 
tributor to horticultural magazines, and in his later years, when his means 
permitted, undertook several large model farms, one of which, in Michigan, 
is still in operation. 

He died at Flint July, 22, 1869. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



327 



Children: Mary Ann (Orrell), William W., Rebecca Folger (Durant), 
Sarah Bush (Ross), Lucy Anna (Smith), Rhoda Macumber (Wilson), Hen- 
rietta Pell (Hyatt), Lydia Sherman, Emma Chase (Cristy), Wilhelmina 
Helena (Clifford). 

*Items furnished by Henry H. ('rapo, son of William W. Crapo, of New 
Bedford,- Mass. 

*Henry Porter Baldwin (1869-73), was the son of John Baldwin, a 
graduate of Dartmouth College, leaving Henry an orphan when eleven 
years old. His mother was a descendant of Puritans who settled in Roxbury, 
Massachusetts, in 1638. He was born in Coventry, Rhode Island, in 1814, 
When twelve years of age, he secured a position in a mercantile house re- 
maining eight years, when he engaged in business for himself. At the age 




HENRY PORTER BALDWIN. 



of twenty-four he came to Detroit, Michigan, and again became a merchant 
and later a banker as well. He was self-educated. He was an Episcopalian, 
a Whig and later a Republican. In 1860 he was elected to the state senate and 
was made chairman of the finance committee where he did excellent work in 
the management of the state finances when John McKinney left the treasury 
bankrupt. In 1868 he was elected governor by a large majority; re-elected 
in 1870. His first message dealt primarily with state finances and matters 
pertaining to the Agricultural College, Normal School and State University, 
all of which received very careful consideration. On the death of Zachariah 
Chandler in 1879, Governor Croswell appointed Ex-governor Baldwin United 
States Senator for the unexpired portion of his term of two years. In 1880- 
81 he was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee. 

He died at Detroit, Michigan, December 31, 1892. 

Children: Sybil, Katherine. 



328 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL CiOLL:^G:^. 



*The above information was furnished by Hon. William R, Bates, Flint, 
Mich. 

*JoHN JuDSON Bagley was the son of John Bagley of Durham, New 
Hampshire and Mary M. (Smith) Bagley, of Sharon. Connecticut. He was 
born in Medina, New York, July 24th, 1832, and married Frances E. New- 
bury of Rutland, Ohio, at Dubucjue, Iowa. John J. was educated in the 
public school. He was a Unitarian and a Republican; an extensive manu- 
facturer of tobacco in Detroit; a member of the Detroit Board of Education 
about 1866; governor of Michigan 1872 to 1876; had much to do with building 
the State Capitol and seeing that it was paid for when completed. He was 
the man who changed the style of the state reports making them uniform 
on a plan still maintained in 1912. He was also the man, who, with four out 




JOHN JUDSON BAGLEY. 



of six of the members of the Board of Agriculture insisted on the resignation 
of Dr. Miles. He was a thorough business man in his appointments, and 
saw that the accounts of every state institution were properly kept. 

He had an ambition to be Un ted States Senator, but ill health prevented 
him from following up the subject with vigor. 

He died July 27, 1881, at San Francisco, California. 

Children: Florence, John W., Margaret, Helen, Katherine, Frances, 
Olive, Paul. 

*Charles Miller Croswell, son of John Croswell and Sally (Hicks) C, 
was born October 31, 1825, at Newburg, Orange county, New York. He 
married (1) Lucy M. Eddy, Feb. 1852. She was born April 1, 1831 at Marion, 
Wayne county. New York, educated and married in Adrian, Lenawee county, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



329 



Michigan, February, 1852, and died March 19, 1868. (2) Elizabeth Mus- 
grove, who later married Thomas D. Merrill of Duluth, Minn. 

To a great extent Mr. Croswell was self educated. He was a Presby- 
terian and a Republican; by occupation a carpenter and a contractor; a 
lawyer; mayor of Adrian; state senator; representative and speaker of the 
House, 1873; governor 1877-1881, two terms of two years each. 

Mr. Croswell died December 13, 1886. 

Children: (1) Harriet, Miss, a missionary (1912) Kodaikanal, Madura 
District, South India. (2) Lucy Croswell (Perkins). 

*David Howell Jerome was the son of Horace Jerome of Tompkins 
county, New York, and Elizabeth Rose (Hart), who came to Michigan in 
1828. David H. was born November 17, 1829, at Detroit, Michigan; mar- 




CHARLES MILLER CROSWELL. 



ried on June 15, 1859, Lucy Peck, daughter of E. W. Peck of Pontiac, Michi- 
gan. He was an Episcopalian, in politics a Republican. 

In 1853 he was mining in California; 1854 a merchant in Saginaw. For 
military record, see Appendix. 

In 1862 he was elected state senator, and served six years; chairman of 
the committee on state affairs throughout that time. 

In 1873 he was a member of the committee to revise the State Constitution; 
for several years he was on the board of Indian Commissioners, also trustee 
of the Michigan Military Academy. 

He was governor of Michigan 1881-1883. 

Governor Jerome died April 23, 1896, in a sanitarium at Watkins, New 
York. 



330 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Children : First and second died in infancy ; Thomas Spencer, an attorney, 
Detroit, Mich. 

In Dec. 1911, his son, Thomas, had been a resident of the isUmd of Capris 
in the Bay of Naples, Europe. 

*JosiAH Williams Begole was the son of William Begole, born in Mary- 
land, and Eleanor Bowls B., of the same state. He was born January 20, 
1815, in Livingston county, Michigan. 

He married Harriet Miles, April 22, 1839. She was born at Homer, New 
York, Nov. 25, 1817. Mrs. Begole was a sister of Dr. Manly Miles, the first 
professor of agriculture at M. A. C. Mr. Begole was educated at Temple 
Hill Academy, Geneseo, New York. He was a Presbyterian; in pohtics a 
Greenbacker and later a Democrat; a farmer, then a lumberman in Flint, 




DAVID HOWELL JEROME. 



Michigan. A man who had many friends. Beginning in 1856 he was county 
treasurer for eight years; 1871 state senator; in 1872 congressman; in 1883-85 
governor of Michigan. 

He died at Flint, Michigan, on June 5, 1896. 

Children: Mary Eleanor; William Manley, a student at M. A. C, 60-62; 
Frank Cushman, a student at M. A. C, 60-61; Charles Myron; Helen May 
B. (Cummings, Fhnt, Mich.), who furnished the above items. 

*RussEL Alexander Alger was the son of Russell Alger of Connecticut 
and Caroline (Moulton) A. He was born at Lafayette, Medina county, 
Ohio, February 27, 1836. In 1861 he married Annette Henry of Grand 
Rapids, Michigan. They were Presbyterians, and Mr. Alger was a Re- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



331 



publican. He was admitted to the bar in 1857, to the bar of the Supreme 
Court of Ohio, 1859. See appendix E. for military record. 

Extensively engaged in the lumber business, Detroit 1866, continuing for 
many years; president of the Alger, Smith & Company, beginning 1881, 
also president of the Manistique Lumbering Company, 1882; director in 
several banks; governor of Michigan 1885-87; secretary of war 1897; United 
States senator 1902. 

He died at Washington, D. C, January 24, 1907. 

Children: Russell A., Detroit, who furnished the above items; Frederick 
M.; CaroHne (Mrs. Shelden of Detroit); Fay A. (Mrs. Bailey of Harrisburg, 
Pa.); Frances A. (Mrs. Pike, Chicago, 111.). 

*Cyrus Gray Luce, son of Walter L. Luce of Connecticut, was born in 




JOSIAH WILLIAMS BEGOLE. 



Windsor, Ohio, July 2, 1824. His mother was born in Virginia. He married 
(1) Julia Ann Dickinson of Gilead, Branch county, Michigan; (2) Mrs. 
Mar}^ E. Thompson, November, 1883. Mr. Luce was educated in the com- 
mon schools of Ohio and Indiana with three months at Ontario Academy, 
La Grange, Indiana. He was a protestant and a Republican from the 
organization of the party. At the age of 24 he settled on a new farm in 
Gilead, where he lived until elected governor. As he urged others to do, he 
kept his farm fertile by judicious management. No man ever had a more 
abiding friendship at home and among his neighbors than did Governor 
Luce. He was proud to be considered industrious. Milo Campbell said: 
"He was exemplary. He was worthy of remembrance and of emulation in 
any home. He was temperate always. His intercourse with men was pure. 
His lips were clean. His spirit was "buoyant and hopeful. He was honest 



332 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



and truthful, congenial and open hearted. ' The warmth of his hand and his 
sincere welcome made all men feel that his hearth-stone was theirs also. 
His farm to him was the most loved spot on earth. He was ambitious and 
when elected to office attended to it with efficiency and economy. He was 
eleven times elected supervisor. While Mr. Luce could not properly be 
called an orator, he was certainly one of the most interesting and instructive 
of talkers. It may with truth be said that few men have spoken to so many 
different people in so many places in the state, upon so great a variety of 
themes and with such sustained interest as he. He was a good story teller, 
possessed a clear ringing voice.'' 

Judge George L. Yaple, an opposing candidate for governor, said of him: 
"He was an honest, sincere and useful man. His private life was pure. The 




RUSSEL ALEXANDER ALGER. 



record of his public service is without spot or blemish. Perhaps the fittest 
tribute to the memory of the man is the universal recognition of his granite- 
like integrity and his aggressive earnestness. The maxims of the time- 
server, the demagogue and the mere politician found no place in his creed of 
life. He was honest, not as a matter of policy, but as a matter of principle. 
He was earnest because he was on fire with convictions. He was useful 
because he served his fellow men. No governor of the state of Michigan 
ever exhibited greater strength and independence of character or more 
strongly impressed his own personality upon the commonwealth. Honors 
came to him not because he sought them, but because he was prepared for 
them and merited them. He earned all his success by patient, intelligent 
preparation for the daily duties of life and honors came to him in recogni- 
tion of the quality of the man. Governor Luce was a good, strong, sound 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



:«3 



man, firm and fearless, just and generous, uplifted and inspired Ijy pure and 
lofty ideals; there was in his makeup a 'fragment of the rock of ages.' In 
industry, zealous devotion to duty and efficient service for the people, his 
record has not been excelled in the history of our state. He was an optimist. 
In 1854, upon the organization of the republican party, he was elected to 
the house of representatives, going in this time with flying colors, though 
still young for the position, and four years later we find him acting as treas- 
urer of Branch county." 

Next came his election to the state senate, in which his impress for square 
dealing, economic measures, and rational reform, was distinctly felt. 

He was a member of the State Board of Agriculture 1885-87; master and 
lecturer of his home grange; master of the state grange preceding his election 
as governor in 1887, serving two terms — four years." 




CYRUS GRAY LUCE. 



When Mr. Luce left the gubernatorial chair, he took up his residence in 
Coldwater, where he could keep an oversight of his Gilead farm, the Southern 
Michigan National Bank, of which he had been a director over a quarter of a 
century, the Coombs Milling Company, of which he was president, and the 
increasing business of Hugh Lyons & Co., in Lansing, in which he and his 
son. Homer, were largely interested. For diversion, there was his beloved 
grange, of which he had been an active member since he took a hand in its 
organization; the Twentieth Century Club, of which he was president at the 
time of his death; and his outlook upon the great political events of the last 
decade, in which his interest never palled. He was always in demand as a 
public speaker, for he was ready in words, profound in thought, and con- 
vincing in argument. Certainly no governor knew personall}^ more men 
among the farmers than Cyrus G. Luce, and no one ever made so many 
speeches to which so few objections could be made. 



334 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



He died at Coldwater March 18, 1905, a young man at the age of 81 years, 
soon after which the legislature conducted memorial exercises. 

Children: Elmira J. (Mrs. John G. Parker of Orland, Indiana); Emery 
Greeley, on his father's farm; Dwight, died in infancy; Florence A.; Homer 
D. (Secretary of the Hugh Lyons Company, Lansing, Mich.). 

*Edwin Baruch Winans, son of John Winans and Eliza (May) W., was 
born May 16, 1826, at Avon, New York. 

He married Ehzabeth Galloway Sept. 3, 1855 at Hamburg, Michigan, 
where she was born. She was educated at Albion College, Albion, Mich. 

Mr. Winans was educated at the same college. He was an Episcopalian 
and a Democrat. From 1850 to 1856 h(; was mining and banking at Rough 
and Read}', California; 1856 to 1894 farmer and land owner Hamljurg, 




EDWIN BARUCH WINANS. 



Livingston county, Mich. He was a member of the legislature 1861 to 1863; 
member of the constitutional convention in 1867; judge of probate in 
Livingston county, Michigan, 1876 to 1880; member of Congress 1882 to 
1886; governor of Michigan 1891 to 1893. Governor Winans died at Ham- 
burg, Mich., July 4, 1894. 

Children: George G. Winans, Hamburg, Mich., who furnished the items 
above given; Edwin Baruch, Captain U. S. Army. 

John T. Rich was born at Conneautville, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1841. 
He was the son of John W. of Shoreham, Vermont, and Jerusha (Treadwell) 
R., of the same place. He removed to Michigan in 1848, locating at Elba, 
Lapeer county; he was educated in the pubhc schools, in Markston Academy 
and Lapeer high school. He married Lucretia M. Winship, of Flint, Michi- 
gan, March 12, 1863. She was from Avon, New York, educated in the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 335 

common schools and in an academy in Genessee county. He was a farmer 
from boyhood, prominent as a raiser of fine wool sheep; a Universalist and 
a Republican ; supervisor for four years ; representative in the legislature 
eight years; speaker of the house 1876-1880; state senator from January 
to April, 1880; member of the 47th Congress 1881-1883; commissioner of 
railroads 1887-1891; governor of Michigan 1893-97; collector of customs, 
Detroit, 1898-1906; collector Port Huron since January 9, 1909; state treas- 
urer February to December, appointed by Governor Warner on the retiring 
of Frank P. Glazier; president State Sheep Breeder's Association; president 
Cyclone Insurance Co. 

Besides farming he engaged in lumbering and dealing in pine lands; trustee 
in successfully closing a large lumber firm 1896, aided by Senator James 
McMillan, a personal friend; met with indifferent success inventing and 
manufacturing in connection with electric railways. 




JOHN T. RICH, 

Children: None. 

Address: Elba, Lapeer County, Michigan. 

*Hazen S. Pingree (1897-1901), was born in Denmark, Maine, August 
30, 1840. He was the son of Jasper Pingree of the same place and Adaline 
(Bryant) Pingree of Maine. He was married February 28, 1870, to Frances 
Gilbert of Mt. Clemens, Michigan. 

He had a common school education. He was active in the Baptist church, 
though never joined the organization; in poHtics a Republican. August 1, 
1862, he enlisted in Company F of Massachusetts heavy artillery, was cap- 
tured May 25, 1864, and confined in Andersonville prison for six months. 
He re-enlisted, was present at the surrender of General Lee, May 26, and 



336 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAlsr AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE^. 



mustered out August 16, 1865. Shortly after, going to Detroit, he entered 
the firm of H. P. Baldwin & Co.; in 1866 began making shoes under the firm 
name of Pingree and Smith; in 1889 began his four terms of service as 
mayor of Detroit; 1896-1900 served as governor of the state. While mayor, 
there was a great deal said concerning his plan of inducing owners to grant 
poor people the privilege of growing potatoes on vacant city lots. 

He died June 18, 1901, in London, England. 

Children: Gertrude Elizabeth, Hazen S., Hazel Hope, (Mrs. Sherman L. 
Depew, Detroit). 

*Aaron Thomas Bliss was born at Smithfield, New York, May 22, 1837. 
He was the son of Lyman Bliss and Ann M. (Chaffee) Bliss, both of Peter- 
borough, New York. 




HAZEN S. PINGREE. 



He married Allaseba M. Phelps of Solsville, New York, on March 31, 1808. 

Mr. Bliss' education was limited; began business as clerk in a drug store. 
He was a Methodist and a Republican. During the civil war he was captain 
of Company D, 10th New York cavalry. 

He was a lumberman, banker, merchant and managed farms at Saginaw, 
Michigan. 

He was alderman, county surveyor, president of the board of education, 
state senator in 1882; member of the 51st Congress; department com- 
mander G. A. R. 1897; governor 1901-1905. 

He died at the sanitarium of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, September 16, 1906. 

Children: None. 

These items were furnished by his Avife, April, 1912, Saginaw, West Side. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND PACTTLTY. 337 




AARON THOMAS BLISS. 




FRED MALTBY WARNER. 



43 



338 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Fred Maltby Warner was bom at Hickling, Nottinghamshire, England, 
July 21, 1865, and was adopted when three months old by Hon. P. Dean 
Warner in New York, later of Michigan, whose wife was Rohda E. (Botsford) 
W. He married Martha M. Davis, of Farmington, Michigan, who was Ijorn 
in 1867. 

Mr. Warner was educated in the public schools of Farmington with part of 
a year in 1880 at the Agricultural College. In religion he is a protestant, 
and a Republican. From 1881 to 1905 he kept a general store; 1888-1911, 
and still (1913) at it, manufacturer of cheese; 1888-1893 president of Farm- 
ington, Oakland county; 1890-1911 member of school board; 1895-1899 
member of the state senate; 1901-1905, secretary of state; 1905-1911 gov- 
ernor of Michigan, three terms. 

Children: S. Edessa; Howard M.; Harley D.; Helen R. 

Address: Farmington, Mich. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



330 



MEMBERS BY AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE. 

*David Carpenter, son of Clement Carpenter and Sarah (Gilmore) C, 
both natives of New England, was born in Potsdam, St. Lawrence county, 
New York, April 19, 1815. He married (1) in 1834, Thibza Pease, of Potsdam, 
New York, who was born May 22, 1812, and died December 22, 1839; (2) 
Mary L. EUis in 1840, she died June 14, 1848; (3) Hepsibeth Worth of New 
York, in August, 1848. She died June 24, 1910, at Blissfield. 

He was educated in the common school and the Academy at Potsdam. He 
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Whig, later a Re- 




DAVID CARPENTER. 



publican. From Potsdam he moved to Blissfield, Lenawee county, Michi- 
gan, where he and his brother set up a store, also engaging in the real estate 
business which David C. continued until his death. He was also a banker. 
He served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture 1861-71. He was 
an honorable and i^rominent man, occupying offices not reported to the 
writer. 

He died at Mt. Dora, Florida, Dec. 22, 1891. 

Children : None. 

Items furnished by his niece, Elizabeth A. Webl), Blissfield, Mich. 

*JusTus Gage was born in DeRuyter, Madison county, New York, March 
13, 1805. He married Matilda Tinkler 1836; received a common school 



340 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



education with a short term in an academy, which was enough to stimulate 
his active mind from that time forward to become a dihgent student. In 
1822 he became a member of the UniversaUst Church and was soon after 
licensed to preach, which profession he continued through life, so far as his 
health would permit. 

In the spring of 1837 he emigrated with family to Michigan, settling in 
Wayne township. He took a great interest in agriculture, was one of the 
early presidents of the Agricultural Society of Oass county; was a prominent 
member of the executive committee of the State Agricultural Society; in 1852 
delivered the annual address before the State Agricultural Society at Detroit. 
His interest in education was second to none. In the fall of 1850 he was 
chosen director of the village school at Dowagiac and at once began to or- 
ganize the union or graded school. He was active in organizing a Univer- 




JUSTUS GAGE. 

salist society and served as clerk as long as he lived. His virtues and pioneer 
sketches will long be treasured by the pioneers of his county. He was active 
in securing the passage of the law organizing the Agricultural College; was 
a member of the State Board of Agriculture by act of the legislature, serving 
from 1861 to 1869. 

He died at Dowagiac, January 21, 1875, in his 69th year. 

Children: Three sons, two daughters. 

Information secured by Samuel Johnson, mostly from History of Cass 
County by Howard S. Rogers. 

*Philo Parsons was the son of Lewis Baldwin Parsons and Lucine (Hoar) 
Parsons. He was born in Scipio, Cayuga county, New York, February 7, 
1817. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



341 



He married Anne Eliza Barnum June 27, 1843, at Perry, New York. She 
was born at Danbury, Conn. He was educated at Gouverneur and Homer, 
New Yorlv. 

He was at one time a Presbyterian l)ut later a Congregationalist, always 
an active worker in the church, and in politics a Republican. 

He was first in business at Perry, New York, with his father; in 1844 he 
moved to Detroit and took up the business of a wholesale grocer; established 
a private bank; for many years president of the First National Bank in 
Detroit; traveled in Europe; member of the common council, sent on first 
relief train to Chicago after the great fire in 1871; president of the Chamber 
of Commerce; president of the State Agricultural Society; trustee of Olivet 
College for 36 years; chairman of a committee to secure a design and have 
erected at the National Capital a statue of General Cass; active in securing 




PHILO PARSONS. 



Belle Isle Park; a large benefactor to home and foreign missions, aiding young 
men to the ministry, gave $60,000 to Olivet College; presented the Rau 
library to the State University; could not enlist in the army because of per- 
sonal defects, but gave much to aid the cause, banqueting the second regiment 
of Michigan Volunteers ; member of the State Board of Agriculture by Legis- 
lature Act 1861-63. 

He was loyal to his church, city and state to an extraordinary degree. 

He died at Winchendon, Mass., January 12, 1865. 

Children: Frances Eliza, widow of Doctor William F. Edwards; Lewis 
Baldwin; Edward Levi; Kate Eugene, deceased; Julia Norton, (Mrs. William 
E. Boynton); Mary Lucine; Grace Douglas, Greenpoint Settlement 58, Jane 
St., Brooklyn, New York. 



342 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Judge Hezekiah Griffith Wells was born at Steubenville, Jefferson 
county, Ohio, June 16, 1812, and received his education at Kenyon College. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1832, after studying in an office at Steubenville. 
His ancestors came from England to Maryland, and for several generations 
resided in that state; his parents removed to Ohio in an early day. 

Judge Wells came to Kalamazoo county in 1833, and for two years lived 
on a farm in the township of Texas; he removed from Texas to Schoolcraft, 
and to Kalamazoo village in 1846. He was married in 1840 to Miss Achsah 
Strong of Kalamazoo. 

Judge Wells held numerous school, township and county offices as long 
as he lived and was a member of every convention and commission for drafting 
or revising the state constitution. He received the title of "Judge" from 
his position as County Judge for Kalamazoo county. The confidence im- 




JUDGE HEZEKIAH GRIFFITH WELLS. 



posed by the people in his judgment and integritj^, was well exemplified by 
the fact that fully eighty per cent of the cases tried under his jurisdiction were 
without a jury, it being necessary then for the party desiring a jury to de- 
mand it. He served five terms as president of Kalamazoo village; was 
twice elected presidential elector, first in 1840, and again in 1860. He was 
appointed minister to the Central American States by President Lincoln, 
and consul to Manchester, England, by President Johnson, both of which 
he declined. He was named in the law which organized, in 1861, the State 
Board of Agriculture, and drew by lot the four years term up to the ad- 
ministration of Governor Begole; and he was for the greater part of this time 
president of the Board. He was for one year president of the State Agri- 
cultural Society, and for a number of terms was a member of the executive 
committee of that body; and was also for many years an active member of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



343 



the Board of Trustees of the Kalamazoo Female Seminary. He raised the 
25th Michigan Infantry in 1862, and was one of the principal ones instru- 
mental in organizing the State Pioneer Society of which he was president at 
different times. 

President Grant in 1874, appointed Judge Wells presiding officer of the 
Court of Alabama Claims; and upon that occasion he resigned his position 
on the Board of Agriculture, but was induced by President Abbot to withdraw 
the resignation. Upon the re-organization of that court. President Arthur 
re-appointed Judge Wells as its presiding officer, he being the only man on 
the new court who was a member of the old one; failing health, however, 
compelled him to resign. 

The Agricultural College owes much to Judge Wells' ability, and his zeal 
in behalf of the school, for its present high position and prosperity. He 




SILAS ALLEN YERKES. 



spent one whole season before the state legislature, when efforts were being 
made to have the College removed to Ann Arbor, and made a department 
of the University. He was confident that such a course would be detri- 
mental to the best success of the College. 

He also opposed the measure which at one time proposed to move the 
College from its situation in the woods to a cleared farm in the southern part 
of the state. It was under his supervision that all the large sales of lands 
granted by the state were made, which very materially aided the College 
in its early history. 

Judge Wells had no children, l)ut has always taken a deep interest in 
young men, and on numerous occasions has materially aided those endeavor- 
ing to obtain an education; and his assistance was often and willingly rend- 



344 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



ered worthy ones in obtaining positions and securing a start in life. He was 
a jovial old gentleman, fond of jokes, and was a great story teller, and his 
company was always pleasant and lively. A life sized oil painting of him 
adorns the College reading room. 

He was a life long Episcopalian, and died a communicant in that church. 
He was a tall man of fine personal appearance. 

Judge Hezekiah G. Wells died at his home in Kalamazoo, April 4th, 1885. 

Probably prepared by President T. C. Abbot. 

*SiLAS Allen Yerkes was the son of Anthony Yerkes, born near Phila- 
delphia, Pa., and Esther (Allen) Y., born in the State of New York. Silas 
was born near Manchester, Michigan, October 14, 1834; never married; was 
educated in the district school and at Hillsdale College; a Methodist and 




CHARLES RICH, JR. 



Republican. He taught school when 17 years old with good success; served 
his township two or three years as supervisor. 

He was named a member of the State Board of Agriculture for Lowell, 
Kent county, in the original act in 1861, qualified and met two or three times 
with the Board, but in October resigned to enter the army. He entered 
as 2d Lieutenant of the 13th Lifantry and became Captain, February 26, 
1863; was wounded at Chickamauga, September 19, 1863; breveted Major 
for meritorious conduct and discharged when no longer able to serve as a 
soldier. May 15, 1865. He was a farmer, residing at Yergennes, Kent County, 
Michigan. He died at home October 26, 1865. 

Most of these notes were furnished by E. L. Bennett, R. D. No. 46, Lowell, 
Kent County, Michigan. He was in the regiment under Yerkes and later 
married the sister of Mr. Yerkes. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 345 

*Charles Rich, Jr., son of Charles Rich, Sr., and Molly (Watts) R., 
was born July 30, 1802. He married Elizabeth Treadway, March 18, 1827. 

From the time he was married he was a successful tenant farmer for ten 
years, when he sold out and moved to Conneautville, Pa., where he engaged 
in keeping a store for ten years (1847) when his property was gone. He moved 
to Lapeer, Michigan, with the purpose of going onto a farm in the woods; 
while waiting for the log house he lost both of his children by typhoid 
fever, he and his wife both recovering. In 1848 they moved into the 
primitive log house. In 1856 he was elected county clerk and register of 
deeds and moved to Lapeer where he lived until his death in 1872. While 
living in Lapeer he held the office of judge of probate and from 1861 to 1867 
was a member of the State Board of Agriculture. He took great interest in 
the College. The timber from the last farm was cut off at a profit and left 




ABRAM CLIFFORD PRUTZMAN. 

him in comfortable circumstances. This information was obtained from 
his nephew, Governor John T. Rich. 

Children: Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Charles Napoleon, deceased; infant 
daughter died April 1845; Mary Jeanette. 

*Abram Clifford Prutzman was the son of Joseph and Maria Prutzman. 
He was born in Columbia county, Penn., March 6, 1813, and when a lad 
moved to Danville, Penn. He married Mary L. Phillips, July 14, 1836. 
She was born in Dauphin county, Penn., Nov. 5, 1816. 

Mr. Prutzman was educated in the common school. In religion he was 
a Presbyterian, in politics a Whig, later a Republican. When he was four- 
teen he was indentured by his parents as an apprentice to Colb & Donaldson 
to learn to become a merchant and remained four years. He then went to 



340 HISTORY OF MICHIOAN AGRICULTTTRAL COLLEGE. 

Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Penn., where he followed the same business 
until the fall of 1834, when he formed a co-partnership with his brother- 
in-law, Edward S. Moore, and removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, 
sending their goods around the lakes to the mouth of the St. Joseph river. 
He went into business in Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo county, where they 
remained two years, then removing to Three Rivers and a year later leased 
the flouring mills of Smith & Bowman, purchasing the same in 1840, and 
continuing until 1859, when they dissolved partnership, Mr. Prutzman be- 
coming a merchant until 1867 when he retired. He was state senator. 




ADONIJAII STRONG WELCH. 

1869-75, and for ten years, 1862-73, he was a member of the State Board of 
Agriculture. He was elected to fill a vacancy on the resignation of Mr. 
Yerkes. He died Jan. 2, 1899, at Minneapolis, Minn., age over 85 years. 

Children: Joseph E.; John F.; Edward M.; Margaret M.; Abraham C, 
'67, 412 Garden Street, Three Rivers, Mich. (1912.) 

*Adonijah Strong Welch was born at East Hampton, Connecticut, April 
12, 1821. He married (1) Eunice Buckingham, at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, April 
12, 1851; (2) Mary B. Dudley, February 3, 1868. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 347 

He prepared for college at Romeo Academy; graduated in the University 
of Michigan, 1846, with the degree of A. B.; studied law with Lothrop and 
Duffield. He was principal of the Union School in Jonesville, Michigan; 
principal of the State Normal School, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1851-65; mem- 
ber of the State Board of Agriculture, 1863-66; president of the State 
Teachers' Association. He went to Florida to recruit his health, and was 
elected United States Senator of that State in 1867. In 1868 he was elected 
president of Iowa Agricultural College, later called Iowa State College, 
and inaugurated March 17, 1869. 

He died, March 13, 1889, at Pasadena, California, and was buried in the 
college cemetery at Ames, Iowa. 

There were two children by the first wife, one a graduate of the Veteri- 
nary College, afterward located in Kansas; and a daughter married, now 
deceased. 




ORAMEL HORSFORD. 

In December, 1911, Dr. Welch's second wife, Mrs. Mary B. Welch, was 
living at 1138 West 29th St., Los Angeles, California. 

*Oramel Hosford, son of William Hosford and Lina (Ellis) Hosford, both 
born in Thetford, Vermont, was born at Thetford, Vermont, May 7, 1820. 
He married Abbie H. Allen, a native of Mansfield, Massachusetts. She 
graduated at Oberlin College, Ohio, and was married there. Mr. Hosford 
graduated from Oberlin in the literary course, in 1843, and in the theological 
course, in 1846. He was a Congregational ist and a Republican. Soon after 
marriage he and his wife went to Olivet, Michigan, to help found a college. 
He heard the first recitation of any one in Olivet, where he was Professor of 
Physics from 1844 to 1890. He was state Superintendent of Public In- 
struction four terms, 1865-73; member of the State Board of Agriculture, 
1866-75. He died at Olivet, December 9, 1893. 



348 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



I copy a few sentences gleaned from comments of his numerous friends: 

"I never saw him discouraged." "He was ordained to the Christian 
ministry in 1858." "He was the second president of the village of Olivet." 
"No untoward action ever marred the harmony of his beautiful and mag- 
nificent character." "He was always regular in his modes of life, thoroughly 
temperate in all his habits, and upright in all his conduct." "He was a 
man who loved his home." "He was the best classroom story teller I ever 
knew." "His hold upon the students was remarkable." 

"The little band with their wagons and horses, covered wagons containing 
all their household goods, with a flock of cattle, started out in a little pro- 
cession from Oberlin for the wilds of Michigan to found Olivet College." 

Children: Elizabeth Lee (deceased); Mary Helena (Mrs. E. S. Noble, 
134 20th St., Toledo, Ohio). 




SAMUEL OLIVER KNAPP. 



*Samuel Oliver Knapp was the son of Nathan Knapp and Eliza (Grinell) 
Knapp, both natives of Massachusetts, who had a family of twelve children. 
Mr. Knapp was born February 23, 1817. In company with Governor Payne 
he manufacttired woolen goods. He married Sarah Balch at Northfield, 
Massachusetts, and moved to Michigan and made considerable money in 
mining copper and dealing in mines in the Upper Peninsula; in the late 
fifties he moved to Jackson, Michigan, where he improved a very fine place, 
one of the finest in the state, in 1874. He was self educated in addition to a 
limited schooling, and learned some botany, horticulture, mineralogy and 
geology. He built and managed with great delight and success a small 
greenhouse adjoining his dwelling. He was one of the founders of the first 
Methodist Church of Jackson and was most generous in helping to build 
the church in 1866. He was the founder of Bay View, building the first 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



349 



cottage there in 1875. He gave most of his fortune to the church which he 
founded. 

He died at Jackson, January 6, 1883; his wife died December 12, 1899. 

He was a very generous and upright man with a positive will of his own; 
rather slow of speech and somewhat reserved. 

He served as a member of the State Board of Agriculture, 1867-73, l^y 
appointment of Governor H. H. Crapo. 

There were no children. 

The above items were chiefly furnished by a niece of S. O. Knapp, whose 
address (1911) was, Mrs. Ella Knapp Watts, Jackson, Michigan. 

*James Webster Childs was born at Henniker, New Hampshire, the 




JAMES WEBSTER CHILDS. 



youngest of ten children, one of whom now occupies the "old homestead," 
the home of Mr. Child's father and grandfather. 

Mr. Childs completed his preparation for a college classical course in New 
Hampshire, but was forbidden to take the course by his physician. Most 
deeply disappointed in his longing for a college education he followed some 
of his elder brothers to Michigan in 1848, having the skme year married 
Miss Lucy A. Hubbard, Claremont, New Hampshire, and bought the farm in 
Augusta, Washtenaw county, upon which he has always lived. He united 
with the Congregational church in his native town at 15 years of age, and 
aided in establishing the Congregational church in Augusta in 1854. From 
that time until his death he has been superintendent of its Sabbath-school. 
Tender and affectionate as a woman, he was constantly busied for the 
improvement of all. Until prescribed for him in his last illness he had 
never tasted intoxicating liquors, and was an ardent advocate of temperance. 
He entered heartily into the grange movement as being a highly educating 



350 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



social force. He interested himself in the schools, in agricultural associa- 
tions and fairs equally warmly and efficiently, whether for the neighborhood 
or for the whole state, and held many offices of trust and honor in them all. 

Mr. Childs served two terms in the House of Representatives and four in 
the Senate, taking a prominent part in all public measures, and carrying into 
politics the high sense of honor and conscientiousness for which he was known 
in private life. He was a member of the Republican party which he had 
helped to form. He was a member of the State Board of Agriculture for 
two terms, 1869-1882, appointed by Governor Baldwin and Governor Bagley 
and served about two years under the appointment of Governor Jerome. 

The above biography was chiefly taken from the report of President 
Abbot, 1881-2. 

Children : One by adoption. 




GEORGE WILBUR PHILLIPS. 



*George Wilbt^r Phillips, son of Ira Phillips of Lima, New York and 
Martha Day of the same place, was born at Lima, New York, in July 17, 
1830; died at Romeo, May 2, 1902. He married Lydia E. Sterling of Romeo, 
Michigan, Feb. 10, 1856. She was born at Romeo, Michigan, December, 
1834. Mr. Phillips and wife were educated in the common schools of Macomb 
county, Michigan. He was a Congregationalist and Republican, a farmer at 
Romeo 1850 to 1902. He was seven tiroes president of his county Agri- 
cultural Societj^, 1858-1870; twice president of Armada Fair Association, 
1872-1873; president of the State Agricultural Society, 1880-1882; member 
of the State Board of Agriculture, 1871-1883. He was one of the original 
members of the State Agricultural Society and made one of the chief exhibits 
in live stock at the first state fair held in Detroit in 1849. 

Through his instrumentality, to some extent, the system of farmers' 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



351 



institutes were established in 1875, the first institute being he!d in his homo 
village, Armada. He was an efficient and faithful member of the State 
Board, a firm friend and a good citizen. 

Children: Conie E. Toney, Geo. W., C. J., Fannie A. Phillips, deceased, 
C. I., John A., Minnie Phillips Beach, H. M. 

*Franklin Wells, son of Joseph Wells and Lucy (HoUister) Wells, was 
born April 19, 1823, at Salem, Washington county. New York. The name of 
his wife was Helen Mar (Briggs). 

He was educated in the public schools; in religion a Congregationalist; 
in politics a Republican. In 1837 he moved to Constantine, Michigan; 1838- 
1842 clerked in a store; 1842 to 1871 kept a general store; from 1871 to his 
death in 1903, took great interest in the management of his farms. He was 




FRANKLIN WELLS. 



postmaster in 1861 for part of a presidential term; in 1895 again postmaster. 
In 1873 he was appointed by Governor Bagley a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture. 

There were nine children: Helen M., Wilhs H., Jeannette L., Fanny W., 
Louisa S., Mary B., Jesse, Franklin H., Antoinette. 

From 1878 to 1890, he was agent for St. Joseph county for the State Board 
of Charities and Corrections. 

For a time he served as a member of the State Central Republican Com- 
mittee. 

Mr. Wells died July 3, 1903. 

Governor John J. Bagley appointed Mr. Wells a member of the State Board 
of Agriculture with especial reference to his business ability and his fine 
record as a citizen. By appointment and election to fill vacancy he served 



352 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



over thirty years, during which time he was faithful to his trust, and for many 
years he was president of the Board of Agriculture. He was a genial man, 
making many friends and few enemies. M. A. C. people can judge of his 
appearance somewhat by an oil painting shown in the Library. 

President Abbot said of Mr. Wells: "As chairman of the College Com- 
mittee on Finance he seems to me to be as nearly perfect as a man can be. 
His acquaintance with business affairs is extensive and accurate to a re- 
markable degree. He keeps in mind the state of the accounts of each de- 
partment of the College, solves the perplexities that arise in the complicated 
business of a school that is also a farm, and audits every account that is paid 
by the institution. I do not believe his private business receives a more 
careful scrutiny than do the affairs of the College. 

" I know better than any one else what this means. For ten years previous 




AARON SMITH DYCKMAN. 

to Mr. Wells' advent on the Board each officer brought his accounts in 
person to me to have them audited. We ran through them item by item, and 
I spent a full half of the long winter vacation in classifying these items and 
drawing up one full statement of the College receipts and expenditures. A 
new system of accounts and of auditing throws this burden, — a great one, — 
upon the Secretary of the Board and the Chairman of the Finance Com- 
mittee. Mr. Wells has a quick appreciation of the beauty of good stock and 
good farming, and takes a keen interest in every department of the College." 



*Aaron Smith Dyckman was the son of Every Brown Dyckman of Green- 
bush, New York, and Harriet (Hinckly) D. He was born February 16, 1826, 



at Clay, New York. 
February 25, 1856. 



He married Amorita Blood of South Haven, Michigan, 
She was born in Utica, New York, in 1836. Mr. Dyck- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



353 



man was educated in the common school and at Kalamazoo College; at- 
tended the Congregational church and voted the Repubhcan ticket. In 
early life he ran a saw mill and engaged in the lumber business; was a most 
successful grower of peaches and some other fruits; served as county treas- 
urer 1860-1864; president of the State Pomological Societj^; member of the 
State Board of Agriculture 1873-1879. 

He died December 12, 1899, living for much of his active life at South 
Haven, Michigan. 

Children: Evert S., South Haven, Michigan; Hattie, Claude. 

*MiLTON Jackson Gard was born March 11, 1824, in Union County, 
Indiana. His father's name was Jonathan Gard of New Jersey and his 
mother's name was Elizabeth (Bishop) of South Carolina. Mr. Gard mar- 




MILTON JACKSON GARD. 

ried (1) Olive Green in 1847; she died in 1857; (2) Susan Fox in 1864. He 
was educated in the common schools; was a Universalist and Republican. 

He taught school for a number of terms; ran a saw mill six years; engaged 
in farming; was supervisor for a number of years and held most every other 
township office. He was active in Volinia Farmers' Club and hved in a fine 
farming country. He contributed an article for the report of the Board of 
Agriculture in 1870 on Farm Management and Breeding Hogs. 

He was appointed by Governor Bagley a member of the State Board of 
Agriculture 1875 and served six years. 

He died July 29, 1900, in Volinia Township, Cass County, Mich. 

Children: By first wife, George W., R. F. D. No. 5, Cassopolis, Michigan, 
(furnished data); by second wife: Mina, Bertha. 

Address: CassopoHs, Michigan. 
45 



354 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Henry Graham Reynolds, 1879-1885. See Secretaries. 

*Thomas Dustin Dewey was born at Broomfic^Id ('enter, Oakland county, 
Michigan, February 22, 1823. His father's name was Appollos Dewey, 
Jr., of Vermont; his mother's name was Abigail (Wetmore) Dewey of Con- 
necticut. Mr. Dewey married (1) Philena (Jould, of Cayuga county. New 
York, on April 10, 1849; she died in 1885. (2) Elizabeth Cramer, November 
2, 1887. She died June 29, 1904. Mr. Dewey was educated in the common 
schools. He was a Presbyterian and a Republican. He was a merchant's 
clerk, later a miller at Owosso, In company with Mr. Stewart, he was a 
breeder of fine horses, including J(n-ome Eddy sold for $25,000. He was 
mayor of Owosso; chief of the fire department; interested in fairs; member 
of the State Board of Agri(ailture 1881-87. 




THOMAS DUSTIN DEWEY. 



He died March 22, 1906. Mr. Dewey was an honorable and very useful 
man. 

Children, by Elizabeth: George Cramer Dewey, 159 Greene Avenue, 
Detroit, Mich. (1911). 



*WiLLiAM Barber McCreery was born August 27, 1836, at Mount Morris, 
New York. He was the son of Reuben McCreery, who lived near Rochester, 
New York and Susan Barker McCreery of South Wales, New York. 

He married (1) Ada Birdsall Fenton, at Flint, Michigan, Dec. 14, 1864. 
She was born June 5, 1838, at Fenton, Michigan, and died in 1884. (2) 
Genevieve Decker, at Flint, Michigan; she died in 1899. Mr. McCreery 
moved to Genesee county, Michigan, with his parents in 1838. He was 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 355 

educated in the common school and at Nutting's Academy, Lodi, Michigan. 
He was admitted to the Bar in 1860. He was vestryman in St. Paul's Pro- 
testant Episcopal Church at Flint; a Republican, and delegate to the National 
Convention in 1884. 

After the war he was one of the firm Judd, McCreery and Avery, owning 
a planing mill at Fhnt; a founder of Citizens National Bank; one of the builders 
and a director of the Chicago and North Eastern Railway; one of original 
directors of FHnt waterworks; mayor of Flint, 1865-66; U. S. Collector of 
Internal Revenue for the Eastern district of Michigan, 1871-74; state treas- 
urer 1874-78; member of the State Board of Agriculture 1882 to April 8, 1890; 
U. S. Consul to Valparaiso, Chili, 1890-93. 

He died at Flint, Dec. 9, 1896. 

Children: Fenton Reuben, of Flint, who kindly furnished the above 




WILLIAM BARBER McCREERY. 

biography; Adelaide Fenton (Mrs. Jerome H. Remick, of Detroit), Katherine 
(Mrs. Matthew Davison, Jr., of Flint). 

*Elijah Waldo Rising, son of Sylvester Rising, was born October 8, 
1822, m Franklin county, New York. In 1843 he married Mary Ann Drake 
of Onondaga county. New York. 

Mr. Rising's education was limited. In 1848 he and his wife moved to 
Richfield, Genesee county, Michigan. In 1871 they moved to Davison in 
the same county, where he planned the village of that name. For a number 
of years he was awarded the first prize on his farm as the best in the country. 
He was a member of the executive committee of the State Agricultural 
Society; president of the County Agricultural Society; member of the legis- 



356 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

lature one term; first president of the village; postmaster appointed by 
President Cleveland during his first term; served as a member of the State 
Board of Agriculture 1883-89 by appointment of Governor Begole. He be- 
longed to the Methodist Episcopal church, in politics a Democrat. He died 
at Davison, April 30, 1893. He was an honorable and public spirited citizen. 
Children: Loclema, Augusta, Ellen, Estella adopted, now Mrs. C. H. 
Howes, 381 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. 

*Henry Chamberlain was the son of Moses Chamberlain of London, New 
Hampshire, and Mary Foster Chamberlain of Canterbury, of the same state. 
Henry C. was born March 17, 1824, at Pembroke, New Hampshire. He 




ELIJAH WALDO RISING. 

married (l)TSarah J. Nash, Jan. 1851, who died June, 1852; (2) Rebecca 
Devanter Amos of Deleware county, Ohio, at Marion, Indiana, November 
19, 1856. 

Mr. Chamberlain was educated in the common school with a year at 
Pembroke Academy; read Blackstone when thirteen years old and through 
life was an extensive reader. 

He was a Congregationalist and a Democrat. In 1843 the family settled 
in New Buffalo, Michigan, later separated and known as Three Oaks in south- 
western Michigan, where he managed a country store and was keeper of the 
postoffice; served three years as supervisor; mail agent; representative in 
the legislature; one of the founders of the State Agricultural Society in 1849; 
cleared during his life more than 1000 acres of land; justice of the peace; 
candidate for governor in 1874; for congress in 1868, 1870, 1876, but not 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 357 

elected; notary public 1846 to the close of his life; member of the State Board 
of Agriculture 1883-89 and 1891-97; delegate to three National Democratic 
conventions and attended two others; a prominent member of the Masonic 
fraternity; in 1872 serving as Grand Master. His father preached Christi- 
anity, temperance, anti-slavery, honesty and morality. 

Henry Chamberlain died at Three Oaks, February 9, 1907. 

Children: By first wife, Henry Nash; by second: Mary Louise, (Mrs. E. 
K. Warren); Rebecca Belle, (wife of Lee Chamberlain); Paul Mellin, (1911) 
Engineer in Marquette Bldg., Chicago, 111. 

*Cyrus Grey Luce, 1885-89. See Governors. 




IIEXRY CHAMBERLAIN. 

George Byron Horton, son of Samuel Horton of Lincolnshire, England, 
and Lucina A. (Perkins) Horton of Herkimer county. New York, was born 
April 17, 1845, in Medina county, Ohio. He married Amanda Bradish of 
Lenawee county, Michigan, who was educated at the Raisin Valley Seminary. 
Mr. Horton received his education in the common school and one term each 
at Adrian College and Hillsdale College. He is an unaffiliated Christian and is 
a Republican. He has been farmer and manufacturer of cheese at Fruit Ridge 
from his youth co the present time ; member of the State Board of Agriculture 
from 1887 to November 9, 1888, when he resigned; postmaster of Fruit Ridge; 
member of the State Constitutional Committee, 1908; state Senator in 1891; 
member of the Board of Tax Commission and State Board of Assessors since 
June, 1911; Master of Fruit Ridge Grange, 1870-90; Master of Lenawee 
county Grange, 1875-1881 ; Master of the State Grange, 1891-1909. Many 
years ago, an influential neighbor remarked: "Keep your eye on George 



358 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Horton, you will hear from him before long." Both of his boys graduated 
at the Agricultural College. 

Children: AUce Louise, Norman B., '02; Samuel W,, '08; Carolyn L. 

Address: Fruit Ridge, Michigan. 

Charles William Garfield (1887-99), son of Samuel M. Garfield, a 
farmer from Batavia, New York and Harriet E. (Brown) Garfield of Peter- 
borough, New Hampshire, was born March 14, 1848, at Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin. He married (1) Alice I. Rockwell, who died at Grand Rapids, Jan- 
uary 15, 1892; (2) Jessie A. Smith of Grand Rapids, who was born in Scotland. 
Mr. Garfield was a graduate of the high school of Grand Rapids; graduate 
of the Agricultural College in 1870 with the degree of B. S.; 1873, M. S., 




GEORGE BYRON HORTON. 



He is a Christian gentleman, in politics for a time a Republican, later a 
Mangwump or Insurgent. 

He was foreman of the Gardens, 1874-1878; secretary of the State Horti- 
cultural Society 1877-87, making first class reports; a director of the first 
State Forestry Commission, 1888-92; president of the Second Forestry 
Commission; member of the State House of Representatives 1881-82; presi- 
dent of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank at least since 1890; member of the 
State Board of Agriculture 1887-99; very active in local and state and na- 
tional horticultural societies, and either president, secretary or director of 
many corporations. He gave thirty acres for a city park; the most active 
man in Grand Rapids in promoting civic improvements of all kinds. Mr. 
Garfield declined to name many of these, says he is mostly a farmer — a 
tickler of the soil. They have one adopted daughter — now Mrs. A. J. 
Decker, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



359 



Oscar Palmer, son of Lorenzo Palmer, who was born in Charron, Con- 
necticut, and Ruth (Wells) Palmer, who was born in the same place. 

Mr. Palmer was born at Westfield, Chatauqua county, New York, No- 
vember 8, 1841. He married Nelhe E. Taylor, Hudson, Michigan, October 
25, 1864. She was born near Hudson, February 13, 1841, and was educated 
there. Mr. Palmer was educated in the common schools of Hudson, and for 
a short time was a student in the Agricultural College; took a medical course 
at the University of Georgetown, D. C, graduating in 1863 with the degree 
of M. D. 

He is a Protestant and a life-long Republican. 

He was acting assistant surgeon of the 2nd U. S. S. at the time of gradua- 
tion, and then commissioned by Governor Blair for the same place, serving 




CHARLES WILLIAM GARFIELD. 



till October 25, 1864, making three years and four months of service; located 
at Jonesville, Michigan, December 1864, practicing for five years medical 
surgery; engaged in manufacturing and real estate till 1875; from 1875 to 
1880, engaged in newspaper work, as editor of the Jonesville Independent, 
and farming; moved to Grayling 1880, erected a planing mill, and ran it for 
three years; from 1878 to 1883 devoted all his spare time to the study of law; 
admitted to practice in state and U. S. courts in 1883; 20 years between then 
and now (1911) served as Prosecuting Attorney and Circuit Court Com- 
missioner Crawford county; was Register of U. S. Land Office under Harrison 
1889 to 1893, beheaded by Cleveland 1893, reappointed by McKinley in 
1897; member of the state legislature 1883-85; member of the State Board of 
Agriculture 1889-91. He still resides at Grayling, Michigan. 
Children: One child was born but died soon after birth. 



360 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Asa Chapin Glidden was the son of Jehiel Glidden of New Hampshire and 
Harriet (Chapin) Ghdden of Onondaga county, New York. He was born 
June 21, 1-835, near Batavia Village, Genesee county, New York. He mar- 
ried (1) Esther Gould, of Orange county, New York, on March 12, 1868. 
She was born 1843 and died March 17, 1890; (2) Loretta Bicknell of Cedar 
Springs, Michigan, who was educated in the high school and taught school for 
some years. 

Mr. Glidden was educated in a common school previous to 1852, when the 
family moved to Paw Paw, Michigan, where he attended high school ; taught 
district school eleven winters. 

He is a Congregationalist and a Republican from Fremont to Taft. He 
managed his mother's farm; served as township school inspector for some 




OSCAR PALMER. 



years; supervisor one year; secretary of the County Agricultural Society 
six years; secretary of the County Insurance Company two years; president 
of the First Michigan Association of Agricultural Societies continuing for 
three years; 1884 for four years an editorial contributor to the Michigan 
Farmer; editor of the Grange Visitor for three years; member of the State 
Board of Agriculture 1889-1895; correspondent of several papers; in 1895 
sold out and moved to Cedar Springs, Michigan, where he works his farm. 
Children by second wife: Harold Bicknell, Galen McKee. 



Ira Howard Butterfield, 1889- 
taries. 



Resigned July, 1893. See Secre- 



HoRACE CooLEY Spencer, son of Chester Spencer of Hartford, Ct., and 
Abigal Badgley of Cortland, New York, was born July 27, 1832, at Cortland, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 361 




ASA CHAPIN GLIDDEN. 




HORACE COOLEY SPENCER. 



362 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



New York. He married Catherine C. Morris, formerly of Jordan, New York. 

Mr. Spencer was educated in the common school and Springville Academy. 
He is a Universalist and a Republican. 

From the State of New York he moved to Flint and engaged in the hard- 
ware business; later in banking. He was a member of the state Senate 
1885-87; mayor of Flint in 1908; member of the State Board of Agriculture 
1890, resigning December 26, 1890. With more intimate acquaintance 
doubtless the writer could say more of this estimable man. 

One child: Mrs. Carrie A. Bishop. 

*Edwin Phelps was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, April 7, 1828. He 
was the son of Elnathan Phelps, of Pittsfield, Mass., and Clarissa (Colt) 
Phelps, of Richmond, Massachusetts. 




EDWIN PHELPS. 

He married (1) Mary Irish of Oakland county, Michigan, June 16, 1858, 
who died in July 1870; (2) Deha Kimball, Nov. 12, 1874, Pontiac, Michigan. 

His ancestors lived in Connecticut, and were religious, energetic and 
ambitious. When five years old Edwin went to Michigan with his father 
where they were pioneers. He attended the common school in a log house, 
later went to an academy, taught by R. C. Kedzie, later a professor at the 
Agricultural College in Rochester, Oakland county, Michigan. 

At the age of 21 he went overland to California for gold, coming back in 
two years with $7000, with which he bought his father's farm, called Maple 
Place. He made it the show place of that region. He was the first man 
in the state to import Hereford cattle; he also imported Holstein cattle, 
built a silo and in other respects was a thorough up-to-date farmer. 

He was a Universalist and a Democrat; was economical, generous, in- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



363 



dustrious. He was for the last ten years of his hfe crippled with rheumatism. 

He was justice of peace for twenty years; prominent in political circles; 
a member of the executive committee of the State Agricultural Society; 
appointed a member of the State Board of Agriculture by Governor Winans 
in 1891 and resigned January, 1895. 

He died May 22, 1904, at Pontiac, Michigan. 

Children: Mary, Jessie, by first wife; by second wife: Clara Phelps Smith, 
Ella Phelps Mattison, Edwin Phelps, Jr. 

Information furnished by Jessie Phelps, long a professor at the State 
Normal College, Ypsilanti, Michigan. 

*Charles Freeman Moore, son of Reuben Moore, of Manchester, New 
Hampshire and Margaret T. Kiddle Moore, of Bedford, New Hampshire, 




CHARLES freeman MOORE. 



was born St. Clair, Michigan, August 30th, 1842. He married Harriet Rice 
of Detroit. 

He finished attending the common school when seventeen years old. He 
is a Congregationalist and Republican. The following are his leading oc- 
cupations: Lumbering till 1885; farming, 1866 to 1902; salt business 1886. 
He resided in Saginaw 1869-1873, in Detroit 1873-1874; St. Clair the rest 
of the time. 

Offices held: Member of the school board; alderman and mayor of St. 
Clair; member of the State Board of Agriculture 1893-99; director of the 
American Shorthorn Breeders Association, 1903. He died at the Sanitarium, 
Battle Creek, March, 1912. 

Children: Reuben R., Frederick W., Mary, Harriet, Ruth, died in 1871. 



364 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Charles Jay Monroe was the son of Jay Randolph Monroe of Surry, New 
Hampshire and Fanny (Rawson) Monroe of Erving, Massachusetts. He 
was born November 20, 1839 at Lawrence, Van Buren county, Michigan. 
He married Hattie Morehouse of Albion, Michigan, who was educated 
at Albion and at the State Normal School, Ypsilanti. Mr. Monroe 
was educated in the common school with over two years at the Agricultural 
College and a course in the law school of the State University. In religion 
he is as nearly a Unitarian as anything, in politics a Republican. During 
his active life he has been farming, and banking, at one time manager of three 
banks. He has served as school inspector, supervisor, county surveyor, 
trustee of the Michigan Asylum 1890-93; member of the State Board of 
Agriculture 1894 to June 1907; state Senator 1883-89. He has been active 




CHARLES JAY MONROE. 



in local and state horticultural societies and in every way is an enterprising 
citizen of great worth. 

Children: Stephen B., George C, Cora J., Lucy, deceased, Charles O. 
Address: South Haven, Mich. 

William Edward Boyden was the son of Edward Luther Boyden, of 
Washtenaw county, Michigan and Frances A. (Burnett) Boyden of Phelps, 
New York. Wm. Edward was born in Webster township, Washtenaw 
county, Michigan, July 15, 1860. He married Nettie Adelia Robison, of 
Sharon, Washtenaw county. She was reared, educated and married in 
Ann Arbor, Mich. He was educated in a pubHc school of Detroit, having 
frail health. He is a Republican and no surrender. Since arriving to the 
majority he has always been a farmer, preferring live stock, living on the old 
home farm until November 13, 1901, when as manager of a farm, he cast his 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



365 



lot with Eugene Fifiekl of Bay City. He was director and moderator of the 
old home district school; member of the State Board of Agriculture 1895-97; 
for some years a director of the American Shorthorn Association. 

Names of no children were given. Address : Bay City, Station A, Route 6. 



*Arthur Cranson Bird, 1897- 
Secretaries. 



Resigned January 25, 1899. See 



Thomas Frank Marston is the son of Isaac Marston, from Ireland, later 
Justice of State Supreme Court, and Emma (Sullivan) Marston of Wayne 
county, Michigan. He was born in Bay City, Michigan, March 15, 1869. 
He married Francis Sheldon, of Rutland, Vermont. He is well educated, 




WILLIAM EDWARD BOYDEN. 

though not a graduate of any college. He attended grammar school in Bay 
City; Detroit high school; during the summer of 1888 he attended the Mich- 
igan Agricultural College; some time in the University of Michigan; Agri- 
cultural School of the University of Wisconsin. He is a Presbyterian and a 
Republican. In succession the following indicates his occupations: Farm- 
ing and breeding Jersev cattle; county commissioner for building stone 
roads; member of the State Board of Agriculture, 1897-1903; 1905-08, pres- 
ident of same; member of the State Live Stock Commission. 

Children: Helen, Sheldon, Marion Frances, Thomas Frank. Address: 
Bay City, Michigan, 

*Edward Payson Allen was born October 28, 1839, in the township 
of Sharon, Washtenaw county, Michigan. He was the son of Lewis Allen 
of Morristown, New York and Eliza (Marvin) Allen of New York City. 



366 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



He was married to Clara E. Cushman of Sharon, Michigan, on May 12, 1869. 
She attended the Young Ladies' Seminary of Jefferson City, Missouri. He 
was educated at the State Normal College; the Michigan Agricultural College 
in 1858-1859; graduated in law of the University of Michigan 1867; practiced 
law in Ypsilanti with S. M. Cutcheon for eight years. Enlisted July, 1864, 
as first lieutenant' of the 29th Michigan Infantry. He was promoted to 
adjutant and captain and served to the close of the war. He was active in 
the Presbyterian church. In 1872 he was elected alderman of Ypsilanti; 
prosecuting attorney of Washtenaw county; member of the legislature 1877- 
1881, speaker pro tempore; mayor of Ypsilanti 1881 and one term previous; 
member of Congress 1886. He was a delegate to the National RepubUcan 
Convention 1896. He was a popular campaign speaker and stumped many 




THOMAS FRANK MARSTON. 



states from Maine to Virginia, Ohio and Michigan. He was a member of 
the State Board of Agriculture 1899-1905. 

He died November 26, 1911, at Ypsilanti, Michigan. 

Children: Elmer Cushman, Louise (Thompson). 

Information given by Mrs. E. P. Allen, 213 Hamilton St., Ypsilanti, 
Michigan. 

HoLLiSTER Festus Marsh was born in the City of New York in 1837. 
He is the son of Hollister F. Marsh of Massachusetts and Jane (Morehouse) 
Marsh of New York City. He married Maria E. Regan in Chicago, Illinois, 
who was born in New York State and educated in a girls' seminary in Illinois. 
Mr. Hollister attended Rockville Seminary, Connecticut, not graduating. 
He belongs to the Congregational church and is affiliated with the Repub- 
licans. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 367 




EDWARD PAYSON ALLEN. 




HOLLISTER FESTUS MARSH. 



368 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



He was a bookkeeper in New York City 1854-1855; in the lumber business 
in Chicago, 1856; opened an office for loans and investments in Allegan, 
Michigan, 1870— still in Allegan, 1912. 

He was City Clerk in Chicago, 1859-60; member of the State Board of 
Agriculture 1899-1903. 

He was at the convention in the Chicago Wigwam when Lincoln was 
nominated; he and his wife helping in the decorations. 

Children: Jennie E., deceased, Arthur F. 

Items given by Hon. H. F. Marsh. 

Lucius Whitney Watkins was the son of Hon. L. D. Watkins, who was 
born at Keene, New Hampshire and Sarah English of King county, Ireland. 
He was born August 6, 1873, at Norvell, Jackson county, Michigan. He 




LUCIUS WHITNEY WATKINS. 



married Grace Edith Alley at Dexter, Michigan, June 28, 1899. She was 
educated at Dexter high school and the University of Michigan. 

Mr. Watkins was graduated from the Agricultural College in 1893 with the 
degree of B. S. In religion he is an Episcopalian, in politics a progressive 
Republican. 

He is a student of bird life, a thorough farmer and fruit grower on an 
extensive scale. He was a charter member of the State Academy of Science : 
he was a member of the advisory committee of the M. A. C. Alumni Associa- 
tion 1908-1909; deputy State Game and Fish Commissioner 1896-7-8; member 
of the State Board of Agriculture 1899-05; member of the State Senate 
1909-1911; president of the State Association of Farmers' Clubs, 1906-1907; 
president of the State Live Stock Breeders and Feeders' Association 1906-7; 
candidate for governor. National Progressive party, 1912. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 369 

At the age of 40 years, he has already had a remarkable career. 
Children: Lucius Denison, Douglas Alley, Merrit Whitney. Address; 
Manchester, Washtenaw county, Michigan. 

Robert Darwin Graham was born November 11, 1855, at Union, Onta- 
rio. He was the son of Elwood Graham and Anna M. (Kipp) Graham, both 
of Ontario. He married Annie Gross, of Rockford, Michigan. He was edu- 
cated in district and city schools. 

He was of Quaker parentage, in politics a Republican. He read law 
and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Michigan, April 17, 
1879. Operated a fruit farm, continuing in 1913. 

President of the Fifth National Bank, Grand Rapids, April 1900, con- 
tinuing to consolidation, August, 1908, then became president of the Com- 




KOBERT DARWIN GRAHAM. 

mercial Savings Bank; director of Citizens Telephone Company; treasurer 
of Kent Storage Company; treasurer of Sanitary Milk Company; treasurer 
of West Michigan Fair; treasurer of the West-Side Building and Loan Associa- 
tion; supervisor 1894; representative in the state legislature 1895; state 
senator 1899; elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture 1902 to 
fill a vacancy; in 1905 appointed by Governor Warner; elected under the 
new constitution; chosen Chairman of the Board. 

Children: Josephine, Herman, Ada, Carl, all adopted. 

Address: Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Residence: Walker Township, Kent County, Mich. 

William H. Wallace, son of Robert Wallace, born in Ireland and 
Margaret Deegan, born in Canada, was born at Port Hope, Huron county, 

47 



370 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Mich. He married at Baj' Port, Margaret Mclntyre of Grindstone City, 
Michigan, May 1, 1870. 

He was educated in the high school at Port Austin, and Goldsmith's Busi- 
ness University, Detroit, Michigan; educated much by good hard knocks in 
a stone quarry in summer and lumbering in winter. He is a Presbyterian 
and a Republican. His business has been: Shipping clerk for two years; 
superintendent of Bay Port Quarries for four years; superintendent of Saginaw 
Tuscola and Huron Railroad for two years ; general manager of this railroad 
for four years; general manager of the Sugar Company of Sebewaing for 
three years; general manager of the Michigan Sugar Company of Saginaw, 
Michigan, five years, still holding (1913). He has held no public offices; 
several honorable appointments; commissioner of the Pan American Ex- 
position; member of the Republican State Central Committee for eight 




WILLIAM II. WALLACE. 



years; member still holding of the State Board of Agriculture 1908, time 
expiring in 1916. 

Children: . Nellie, Belle, Robert, William H., Jr., Ora M., Margaret. Ad- 
dress: Eddy Building, Saginaw, Mich. 

Aaron Pitt Bliss was born July 27, 1860, at Peterboro, Madison county, 
New York. He was the son of Eli S. Bliss and Mariette Hoffman, both of 
the town last mentioned. He married Mary Brockway in Saginaw, Michi- 
gan, December 12, 1882. He was educated at Evans Academy, then in 
Saginaw and Detroit. 

He is a member of the Methodist church and is a Republican in politics. 
He was a member of the State Board of Agriculture from 1903-1909. His 
occupation has been that of lumbering and farming. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



371 



Children: Abel B., Allaseba, George B. 
Address: 1101 North Michigan Avenue, Saginaw, Michigan. 
Information given by the wife through the efforts of Miss Louise Rade- 
macher of the Department of Bacteriology^, M. A. C. 

Henry Franklin Buskirk is the son of William Buskirk of Ovid, New 
York and Sophia (Sadler) Buskirk of Clarence, New York. He was born at 
Hopkins, Michigan, November 26, 1856. 

He married LiUian Hoyt, of Wayland, Michigan, January 28, 1881. He 
-was one year in the high school and four years at M. A. C, graduating in 
1878, with the degree of B. S. He is a Christian and a Republican; a dealer 
in lumber and a farmer 1881-93; a farmer 1878-1913. 

He has held various offices in township and village; two terms a member 




AARON PITT BLISS. 



•of the state house of representatives, 1897-1901 ; member of the State Board 
of Agriculture, 1905-1907, to fill a vacancy. A thoroughly reliable and 
worthy man. 

Children: Bessie, '03, wfe of Prof. J. Fred Baker, '02; a son, died when 
two years old. Address: Wayland, Mich. 

William J. Oberdorffer was the son of Wilham J. Oberdorffer and 
'Catherina (Reuther) Oberdorffer, both natives of Germany. He was born 
March 18, 1855. 

He graduated from the National Schools of Germany in 1870 and came to 
Michigan in 1871. He married Adelaide Corey, at Stephenson, Michigan, 
August 27, 1887. In religion he is a Methodist Episcopal, in politics a Re- 
publican. From 1873-1876 was employed by a railroad company at 



372 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




HENRY FRANKLIN BUSKIRK. 




WILLIAM J. OBERDORFFER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



373 



Escanaba; 1876 located on a farm at Stephenson, Michigan, where he still 
resides (1913). He served as supervisor 1889-1896; member of the legis- 
lature 1896-1900; again supervisor 1904-1911; member of the State Board 
of Agriculture June, 1906-January 1, 1912; member of the Constitutional 
Convention, 1907. 

Mr. Oberdorffer is an industrious and public spirited citizen. 

Children: Cora Alice, senior at M. A. C; Jessie Mary, freshman at 
Lawrence University. Address: Stephenson, U. P., Michigan. 

AFRED J. DoHERTY, SOU of M. J. Dohcrty of Canada and Mary A. (Wiley) 
Doherty of New York, was born May 1, 1856, in the city of New York. He 
married Alice B. Gleason in 1876. He was educated in the pubHc school 
and graduated in 1875 from the Genesee Valley Seminary, Brefort, New 
York. 




ALFRED J. DOHERTY. 



He is a Republican; was a school teacher till 1880; hardware merchant 
until 1898; president of the Milling Light and Power Company of Clare; 
owner of the Water, Light, Sewer and Power Company at Mackinaw Island, 
Michigan, 1904, still owning (1913); general superintendent of the State 
Agricultural Society in Detroit, 1904-1910; member of the state Senate 
1899-1906; member of the State Board of Agriculture 1907-1913. 

Children: Floyd E., Frank B., Alice B., Alfred J., Jr. Address: Clare, 
Michigan. 

I. Roy Waterbury was the son of Richard H. Waterbury of Nassau, 
Rensselaer county, New York and Loxey L. (Sutton) Waterbury, of Oak- 
land county, Michigan. He was born October 2, 1869, at Highland, Mich- 
igan. He married Emma D. Hagadorn of Highland, Michigan. 



374 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




I. ROY WATERBURY. 



He was educated in the public schools with supplementary reading. Affi- 
liated with the Congregational church, a Republican in politics. He was a 
farmer and merchant at Highland 1903; editor Michigan Farmer 1904, 
continuing in 1913; township clerk 1895; township treasurer 1896; super- 
visor 1897-98; member of the legislature 1899-1900; 1901-1902; state Senator 
1903-1905; trustee of the State Hospital for Insane at Pontiac 1905-1907; 
member of the State Board of Agriculture 1907-1916. 

An active and highly esteemed citizen. 

Children: None. 

Address: Detroit and Highland. Mich. 



MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR 
Or selected by the remaining members to fill vacancies by death or resignation. 

William Leland Caepenter, son of Charles K. Carpenter of Orion, 
Michigan, and Jennette (Coryell) Carpenter, was born November 9, 1854, at 
Orion, Michigan. 

He married in Detroit, October 15, 1885, Elizabeth Ferguson. 

He is a member of the Congregational church; in politics a Republican. 
In 1875 he graduated from Michigan Agricultural College with the degree 
of B. S.; 1878 graduated B. L. from the law school of the University of Michi- 
gan; immediately began the practice of law at Detroit, continuing till Janu- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 375 

ary 1, 1894, when he became a Judge of Wayne Circuit Court; November 
12, 1902-September 15, 1908 Justice of the Supreme Court of Michigan; 
president of Detroit College of Law, since July, 1902; he resigned his 
position in the Supreme Court to resume the practice of law in Detroit; 
member of the law firm Stephenson, Carpenter & Butzel; member by elec- 
tion of the State Board of Agriculture 1908, to serve two years. 
Children: Lela E., Rolla Louis. Address: Detroit. 

Members of the State Board of Agriculture elected by the people, be- 
ginning in 1909. 

W. L. Carpenter for two years. 
W. I. Oberdorffer for two years. 




WILLIAM LELAND CARPENTER. 

Robert D. Graham for four years. 
A. J. Doherty for four years. 
I. R. Waterbury for six years. 
W. H. Wallace for six years. 
J. W. Beaumont. 
Jason Woodman. 

MEMBER BY ELECTION, EX-OmCIO. 

Luther Lampheare Wright was born January 18, 1856. He was the son 
of John H. Wright of Vergennes, Vermont and Mary (Stinson) Wright. 
He married April 21, 1880, Helen Corning, who was born in Portage, Wis- 
consin. 



376 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Mr. Wright was educated in the common school; received the degree of 
A. B. at Ripon College in 1878; A. M. in the University of Michigan 1908. 
He is an Episcopalian and a Republican. He was school teacher in Wis- 
consin 1858 to 1877; superintendent of schools, Wanpaca county, Wisconsin 
1877 to 1881; countv commissioner of schools, Gogebic county, Michigan, 
1894 to 1906; state Superintendent of Public Instruction 1909-1913. 

Children: Ann C, Luther M. 

John Wesley Beaumont was the son of Wallace Beaumont of Ayr, Scot- 
land and Margaret Belsham, of Ireland. He was bom at Elizabeth, New 
Jersey, July 20, 1758; married AUce L. Burrows; she was educated and 
married in Saginaw, Michigan. 




LUTHER LAMPHEARE WRIGHT. 



Mr. Beaumont was educated in the pubHc schools of Elizabeth, New 
Jersev, for about ten years; in 1878 he entered Michigan Agricultural College, 
graduating in 1882 with the degree of B. S. He was a first rate student. 
He is a Presbyterian and a Republican. 

He studied law about three years in Saginaw and was admitted to the bar; 
removed to Detroit in August, 1886, and opened an office and has continued 
in practice ever since. He is head of the firm Beaumont, Smith and Harris. 

In 1911 he was elected a member of the State Board of Agriculture, his 
term beginning January, 1912, and continuing for six years. 

Children: None living. Address: 1124 Ford Building, Detroit, Michi- 
gan. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 377 




JOHN WESLEY BEAUMONT. 




JASON WOODMAN. 



378 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Jason Woodman is the son of David Woodman, bom in Rutland, Vermont, 
and Jane Harris Woodman of Caledonia, New York; Jason was born in 
Paw Paw, Michigan, June 2, 1860. 

He married Fannie Buckhout of Oshtemo, Kalamazoo county, Michigan. 
She was educated in the high school of Paw Paw, Michigan. Mr. Woodman 
was educated in local schools and was graduated at the Agricultural College 
in 1881 with the degree of B. S. In politics he is a RepubHcan, of the old 
fashioned variety — a stand patter. He is a successful farmer in the town- 
ship of Paw Paw; was chairman of the Republican County Committee, 
1897-1901; served two terms in the state Senate 1903-1907; elected a member 
of the State Board of Agriculture in 1911 to begin serving Jan. 1, 1912 for 
six years. He has been a most successful lecturer all over the southern 
peninsula for the grange; beginning 1886, he was lecturer of the State Grange 
for eight years; lecturer for farmers' institutes and in political campaigns. 
He is extensively acquainted in nearly all parts of the state; a genial citizen; 
a successful farmer. He has recently been employed by the U. S. Govern- 
ment to engage in the work of farm management in Kalamazoo county, 
Michigan. 

Children: Cora, Thomas, Daniel, John. 

Home address: Paw Paw, Michigan; business address, Kalamazoo, Mich. 



SECRETARIES. 

*RoBERT DoDD Weeks, Secretary, 1857. (See Professors.) 
*Theophilus Capen Abbot, 1861 to December, 1863. See President. 
*Carlos a. Kenaston, pro tempore, 1863-64. 

With the exception of Sanford Howard, the secretaries have maintained 
offices at the college. 

*Sanford Howard, son of Roland Howard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 
and Phoebe Howard of the same town, was born at Easton, Massachusetts, 
August 7, 1805. 

He married Matilda Howard (Williams) at Easton, Massachusetts, August 
23, 1827. She was born at Easton, July 29, 1803; educated in the district 
school. 

Mr. Howard was educated in the district school and also the hard school of 
experience. He was a Universalist ; in pohtics Whig and later Republican. 
From 1831-1837 he was a farmer in Easton, Mass., and in Augusta, Maine. 

When quite a boy, he evinced a decided love for natural history, especially 
that relating to domestic animals. 

In early life he became acquainted with Colonel Samuel Jaques and the 
Hon. John Welles, two of the most noted breeders of their times. To this 
intimacy the world is indebted, in a measure, for much of the information 
disseminated through Mr. Howard's pen during the last thirty years of his 
life. 

At seventeen he became a clerk in a store but after two years he returned 
from choice to the farm. In 1837 he moved to Zanesville, Ohio, and engaged in 
farming, and was soon sent back to Massachusetts and New York to purchase 
good stock for some of his neighbors; 1844 he became associate editor of the 
Cultivator with Luther Tuckerman; January 1852, he moved to Boston, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



379 



Mass., to take charge of the agricultural department of the Boston Culti- 
vator; in 1857 visited Great Britain, Ireland and France to purchase stock 
for a society; he imported more stock later; in February 1864 he was elected 
secretary of the Michigan State Board of Agriculture and in May moved to 
Lansing and began his work. He never resided at the College, but remained 
in Lansing, till his death March 9, 1871. 

Children: Louisa Matilda, Henry Roland, Caroline Augusta, Sophia 
Amelia, (Mrs. T. D. Knight), Hannah Fillebrown (Mrs. Neil Matheson), 
Fanny Harriet (Mrs. Henry B. Baker). 

His wife, Mrs. Sanford Howard, survived him to the age of 94. She was a 
very able woman, the leading organizer of the Lansing Woman's Club. 

Richard Haigh, Jr., pro tempore, March 1871 to November 11, 1873. 




SANFORD HOWARD. 



*WiLLiAM Henry Pickering Marston was the son of Enoch Marston who 
lived near Boston, Massachusetts and Eleanor E. (Pickering) M., born in 
England. He was born at Barnstable, Mass., May 28, 1842, from which 
place he and others of the family moved to New York City. 

In 1870, he (1) married Sarah Ann Sherriff of South Bend, Indiana; (2) 
Harriet L. Babcock, November 9. 1884. Mr. Marston was a Republican 
and something of a politician. He moved to Detroit where he became 
secretary to Governor Bagley, enrolhng as engrossing clerk of the state 
legislature; November 1873 to August 1875 he was secretary to State 
Board of Agriculture; register of deeds in Berrien county; editor and pub- 
lisher of the Benton Harbor Palladieum; dealer in oil; manager of a refrigerator 
company; moved to Fitzgerald, Georgia, in 1895 where he became president 
and secretary of the Board of Education. He was a prominent fraternity 



380 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




W. H. P. MARSTON. 




ROBERT GARDNER BAIRD. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 381 

man as Mason, Odd Fellow, A. U. 0. W., and the Owls. He was postmaster 
at the time of his death; wounded in the Civil War, eleven and one-half 
inches of the tibia of one leg had to be removed; member of the Episcopal 
Church. 

He died Mav 26, 1911. 

Children: By first wife, William H., Jr., Eleanor M., Mrs. Willis L. 
Smith, three others deceased; by second: James B. Duffield, Mary E., 
Helen J., Hallett P., Harriet Evelyn, Theodore R., Mrs. G. A. May, one 
infant died. 

Items supplied by his wddow at Fitzgerald, Georgia. 

Robert Gardner Baird of Scotch descent became a Congregational 
minister and served as a pastor in Portland and Armada, Michigan, and 
most likely elsewhere. He married Mary Jane Scott who survived him 
about 25 years, living in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was appointed 
secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, August 1875 and served until 
his death at the College August 5, 1885. In addition to his secretaryship 
he served as postmaster, beginning with the estabhshment of an office at the 
Agricultural College in August, 1884. 

At the time of his death the College Speculum, strange to say, contains 
no account of his services nor does the report of the State Board of Agri- 
culture for 1885. The ommission was probably due to the ill health of 
President Abbot and the fact that both President Willits and Secretary 
Reynolds had been recently elected. 

When this imperfect sketch was written all the children had died; one 
surviving grandson resides in California while the household goods are stored 
in Grand Rapids. 

Children: Ella (Mrs. Charles Mason Knappen), Henry Ward, '83, 
WiUiam Scott, '85, Robert Douglas, an invalid. 

The four children and Charles M. Knappen all died of consumption and 
later Mrs. Baird died of the same disease. 

Henry Graham Reynolds was the son of James Lusk Reynolds of Enfield, 
Connecticut and Mary Greene (Duncan) Rejmolds of Massillon, Ohio. He 
was born July 4, 1851 at Buffalo, New York. He married Frances Arbuthnot 
Llewellyn of Louisville, Kentucky, at Mexico, Missouri, September 24, 
1874. Mr. Reynolds was educated in a grammar school and the high school 
of Chicago, and was graduated from the Michigan Agricultural College in 
1870 with the degree of B. S.; M. S. in 1873, M. H. in 1893, spent one year 
(1872) in Fresenius Laboratory, Wiesbaden, Germany. He is an earnest 
Christian; is violently opposed to the further protection of our adult in- 
dustries also to any further pauperization of what began as the G. A. R., 
but now is largely a Base Army of Leeches. In 1871 he was foreman of the 
Horticultural department; 1872-1884, fruit grower at Old Mission, Michigan; 
June 1885-June 1893 secretary of the State Board of Agriculture; 1894-1911 
retired on account of ill health. At one time he was supervisor of his town- 
ship; member of the Board of School Examiners; member of the State Board 
of Agriculture 1879-June 1885; city councilman. 

The details of his office were so well in hand that at any moment the Board 
could know from his statement just what money was at their disposal. He 
was a good business manager. He drafted the bill which passed, placing 
the entire management of the remaining college lands in the hands of the 
State Board of Agriculture. He is a man of decided opinion, naturally 



382 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



combative and will fight for what he believes to be right. To his friends 
he is intensely loyal; enemies he has none. 

Children: Frederick Llewellyn, Robert L., '93, Duncan L., Jessie L., 
(Mrs. Terrell), Margaret Vilette, Graham L., Kenyon L. Address: 257 
W. California St., Pasadena, California. 

Ira Howard Butterfield was born December 22, 1840 at Utica, Macomb 
county, Michigan and took the same name as that of his father, hence for 
the early part of his life, wrote after it "junior." The name of his mother 
was Rachel (McNeil) B. He married, August 29, 1866, Olive F. Davison, 
Lapeer, Michigan. He was brought up on a farm, educated in the common 
school, Westfield Academy, New York, State Normal School, Michigan, a 
total schooling of approximately that of a high school. When twenty, he 




HENRY GRAHAM REYNOLDS. 



started overland for California having in charge a drove of cattle and sheep 
for his father and John D. Patterson. He returned in about two years. In 
1865 he began on his own farm breeding Holstein cattle and Merino sheep, 
continuing until 1893. In 1879, he was appointed deputy collector and 
inspector of customs at Port Huron, serving until 1885 and again in 1889, 
resigning in 1893; appointed a member of the State Board of Agriculture 
1889, serving until 1893 when he was elected their secretary serving until Feb- 
ruary, 1899, also serving as postmaster until 1902; in 1881 he was a member 
of the Executive Committee of the State Agricultural Society; 1891 elected 
secretary of that society, serving for four years; vice-president three years, 
1898 president; 1899-1910 secretary; 1910-1911 general manager of the Con- 
necticut Fair at Hartford. He is a genial man without taint of dishonesty. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 383 




IRA HOWARD BUTTERFIELD. 




ARTHUR CRANSON BIRD 



384 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Children: Kenyon L., Bertha May, Raymond H., Clinton D., Mary 
Ahce (Nichols), the second and third not living. 
Address: Amherst, Massachusetts. 

*Arthur Cranson Bird, January, 1899-June, 1902, was born May 22, 
1864 at Highland, Michigan. He married Josephine S. (St. John) of Ann 
Arbor, Michigan in August 1889. He attended common school until the 
age of fifteen when he entered the Agricultural College and graduated in 
1883 with the degree of B. S., paying most of his expenses in college by his 
own exertions. He soon bought a farm and lived on it, succeeding so well 
that the State Board of Agriculture conferred on him the degree of Master 
of Agriculture. In 1897 Governor Pingree appointed him a member of the 
State Board of Agriculture which position he resigned January 25th, 1899. 




ADDISON MAKEPEACE BROWN. 



He was a prominent worker in farmers' clubs, both local and state, having 
served as secretary and president in the State Association; editor of the 
department of Farmers' clubs of the Michigan Farmer. 

On January 25, 1899 he became secretary of the State Board of Agriculture 
which he resigned in 1901 and engaged in several kinds of business in Lansing 
and vicinity. 

For about six j'-ears he was president of the Dairy and Food Commission. 
In 1905 he was selected by Governor Warner to take the state census. He 
was a prominent figure in state politics and a close friend of Governors 
Pingree and Warner. He died rather suddenly May 25, 1910. 

Children: Harold, Clare. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

Addison Makepeace Brown, son of Ebenezer Lakin Brown and Mary 
Ann (Miles) Browai, both born in Vermont. A. M. Brown was born Feb- 
ruary 15, 1859, at Schoolcraft, Michigan. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 385 

He married Mollie Eliza Earl of Schoolcraft, Michigan. They both at- 
tended the public schools and Mr. Brown graduated from the University of 
Michigan in 1883 with the degree of B. A. He is an ardent Republican. 
After graduation at the University, he was farming until 1902; president 
of the village 1885; member of the State Senate 1899-1901 where he was 
chairman of the committee on the Agricultural College; June 1, 1902, elected 
secretary of the State Board of Agriculture, still serving (1913) with the 
prospect of much longer service; during which time he has maintained the 
reputation of being a straight-forward business man and making many 
friends by his uniform courtesy. He is an optimist. He has a beautiful 
family. 

Children: Hearty Earl, A. B., Univ. of Mich., '09, Edward Lakin, B. S., 
Agricul. College, '10, Dorothy Miles, A. B., Univ. of Mich., '11, Malcolm 
Makepeace, student in Agricul. College, Pamela. 



TREASURERS. 

Beginning in 1861, the treasurers lived in Lansing where they received 
the money and accounting as turned in by the secretary of the Board. 
*JoHN Clough Holmes, 1857-58. See Member of the Faculty. 
*Theopilus Capen Abbot, 1858-61. See President. 
*Langford Green Berry, 1861-65. 
♦Joseph Mills, 1865-71. 
*Ephraim Longyear, 1871-85. 
Merritt Lapham Coleman, 1885-February 1887. 
Benjamin Franklin Davis, February 1887- 



PRESIDENTS. 

*JosEPH Rickelson Williams, journalist, was born in Taunton, Mas- 
sachusetts, November, 1808, his parents removing soon after his birth to 
New Bedford. His father. Captain Richard Williams, was a shipmaster, 
and held the office of postmaster of New Bedford. His mother was Rebecca 
(Smith) Williams, one of a numerous family, and a birthright member of 
the society of Friends. He came from Puritan stock. He graduated at 
Harvard, in 1831, having held a high rank of scholarship. 

In his class were Motley, the historian, W^endall Philips, the great agitator. 
Dr. Morrison, for many years editor of the Unitarian Review. He was 
three times Whig candidate for Congress, but his party then was in a hopeless 
minority. He was twice candidate for United States senator against General 
Cass, and was a member of the Michigan constitutional convention of 1850. 

He was in 1835, one of the founders of the Toledo Blade, it being through 
his suggestion that it received its name. To his energy and courage— 
when, in 1850, he returned and assumed its proprietorship — the people owed 
the great influence which it attained in the Northwest. During the Kansas 
and Nebraska troubles, he made a vigorous and uncompromising fight against 
the slave power, and labored with telling forces in inaugurating the Re- 
49 



388 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

publican party in northern Ohio. In all matters wherein a principle was 
involved, he was steadfast, no matter what the consequences. In his editorial 
capacity he feared neither political parties nor great corporations, and acting 
upon this, while gaining respect for his opinions and his policy and making 
many friends among those who appreciated his fearless and honest press, 
he frequently brought down powerful influences against him — which, how- 
ever, failed to intimidate him in the full expression of convictions, or to 
shake his consistancy, decision, and courage in upholding principles or 
measures which he believed to be right. But the labor of editing and con- 
ducting the business of a daily pai)er caused too great a strain on his strength. 
After continuing the work about three years he sold the Toledo Blade and 
accepted an invitation at the hands of the Michigan legislature to assume 
the presidency of the Michigan Agricultural College. 

This he pioneered through the troubles and difficulties attendant upon 
a novel experiment, with al)ility, skill and far-sightedness, although he had 
an element of discord to contend with, of extreme religious bigotry within 
and political partisanship without. He held this position for about two 
years, and in 1861 was elected to the Michigan senate, at the closing session 
of which he was elected president pro tem. On the same day immediately 
after the close of the session, he was seized with a serious attack of hemorrage 
of the lungs, and while still weakened by it he repaired to Washington. This 
was during the stormy period of the commencement of the war. Here he 
recruited rapidly, and when an extra session of the legislature was called 
for May 7th, he hurried north to discharge his duties as president of the 
senate. Leaving his home for Lansing during the severity of a cold May 
storm, his health received a severe shock, from the effects of which he died 
June 15, 1861, at Toledo, at the age of fifty-three years. 

He married in Buffalo, May 28th, 1844, Sarah R. Langdon, a native of 
Portsmouth, New Ham])shire, and youngest daughter of John Langdon, 
formerly a prominent shipping merchant of that place; likewise grand- 
niece of Governor John Langdon of New Hampshire, member of the first 
Congress and signer of the constitution of the LTnited States. 

After the death of Mr. Williams his widow returned to Toledo and was 
herself prominently identified with public affairs in that city up to within 
a few years ago. For a number of years she was one of the proprietors and 
editors of the Sunday Journal; she was the founder and for a great many 
years the editor of the Ballot Box, a paper devoted to the cause of woman 
suffrage, which is still being published in Rochester, and is the official organ 
of the cause which it represents. An intimate friend of Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, she was one of the great incorporators of 
the Toledo Woman's Suffrage Association, and for a great many years its 
president; she was also one of the founders of the New Century Club more 
than twenty-five years ago, and was one of the trustees of the Toledo Uni- 
versity of Arts and Trades under bequest of Jessup W. Scott. 

"Mrs. Williams was a woman of great intellectual force and a powerful 
writer on all public questions. 

"During the war she devoted herself to the cause of the luiion and gave 
generously of her time and means to the assistance of the union soldiers. 
She volunteered herself as a nurse and went to the front to take care of the 
wounded. During her entire life she was ever ready to devote her wonderful 
energy to the cause of humanity oppressed, in whatever guise it appealed 
to her sympathy. She was a devoted wnfe, a fond and careful mother and 
a true friend." (M. A. C. Record, April 22, '02.) 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 387 

Children: Cluirlotte Laiigdon (Mrs. John F. Kumk-r) (1911), living in 
Toledo, Ohio; Sibyl, Rebecca, (Mrs. Rebecca N-. Cooper) Toledo, Ohio. (1911). 

The reader will find much more concerning President Williams in the 
chapter concerning his administration of the Agricultural College. 

The following is copied from the Necrology of Harvard University : 

"At the age of sixteen years the subject of this notice was apprenticed 
in a counting-room in Boston, where he remained two years; Ijut disliking 
a mercantile life he relinquished his place with the intention of obtaining a 
collegiate education. He pursued his preparatory studies at Sandwich 
Academy, under the instruction of Luther Barker Lincoln (H. U. 1822). 
He gained a high rank of scholarship in his class, and graduated with dis- 
tinguished honors. He taught school in his sophomore year in Concord, 
Massachusetts, and in his senior in Northborough, Massachusetts. After 
leaving college he studied law in the office of Honorable John Davis of Wor- 
•cester, (Y. C. 1812) was admitted to the Bar and began the practice of his 
profession in New Bedford. Soon afterwards Honorable John H. Clifford 
of New Bedford, afterwards Governor of Massachusetts offered him a partner- 
ship in a lucrative practice, which he declined on account of his health. He 
was always a student, and as a writer, if he had addressed himself persistently 
to any department of letters, would have been distinguished. He was at 
one period an acceptable contributor to the North American Review. An 
admirable and exhaustive article upon the whale fishery appeared in its 
pages, prepared by him while he was in Mr. Clifford's office. If he had 
devoted himself resolutely to his profession he would have obtained a high 
position in it. In 1835 he relinquished his profession, having accepted the 
agency of an extensive New England Company for investments in western 
lands, and went to Toledo, Ohio. The place, then small, offered few in- 
ducements beyond the opportunity for speculation in city property, in which 
Mr. Williams successfully engaged. He built the American Hotel in 183(), 
and remained there until 1839, when he removed to Constantino, Michigan." 

The following is from the Toledo Blade: 

"Mr. Williams was a writer of great power, his ideas were comprehensive 
and his Avords aptly chosen. He expressed as much meaning, in as few 
words, as any editor with whom we are acquainted. He possessed great 
power of sarcasm, which he sometimes used with great effect, and a genial 
humor ever ready at his bidding. In social life he was an agreeable com- 
panion full of intelligence, with a large acquaintance with books, and ex- 
tensive literary acquirements which served to adorn the finest natural powers 
as a conversationalist. He was a man of great heart, generous to a fault, 
and deeply sensitive to the misfortunes of his fellow men." 

*Lewis Ransom Fisk, A. M., son of James Fisk of New Hampshire, and 
Ellanor (Ransom) Fisk, New York State, married Ehzabeth R. Spence; 
in 1845-46 he attended the AVesleyan Seminary, now Albion College; 1850 
graduated from the University of Michigan with the degree of A. B.; studietl 
law; studied chemistry at Harvard; 1850 professor of natural sciences in Wes- 
leyan Seminary; 1853 professor of natural science, State Normal School; 
1857-1862 professor of chemistry at Michigan Agricultural College and 
acting president 1859-December 1862; 1863 pastor M. E. Church, Jackson; 
186() pastor Central M. E. Church, Detroit; 1869 pastor at Ann Arbor; 
1872 presiding Elder for Ann Arbor district; 1873 received D. D. from Albion 
College; 1873 pastor of the Central M. E. Church, Detroit; 1876 pastor of 



388 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Tabernacle Church, Detroit; 1879 LL. D. from the University of Michigan; 
1875 he was editor of Michigan Christian Advocate; 1877 and later president 
of Albion College for many years; in 1890 he was president of the State 
Teachers' Association. 

Professor Fisk fitted up a laboratory in College Hall and taught chemistry 
in 1858 one year previous to such work for under graduates at Harvard 
University. 

S. M. Millard '64 has this to say: 

"Lewis R. Fisk was a man of pleasant address, genial and generally liked 
by the students. His position was a hard one as is always the case with a 
man who is a pro tempore. 

"His connection with M. A. C. never impressed itself upon the College, 
largely because of his uncertain tenure therein. 

"Nevertheless the students of his time always held him in due respect 
and as a member of the faculty, he was a factor in the early life of the College." 

He died February 14, 1901 at Denver, Colorado. 

Children: Lewis R., Joseph Henry, Frederick Irving, Herbert El wood, 
Clarence Adelbert, Elizabeth Isabella, (later Mrs. Leonard of Albion, Mich.) 

The above items were chiefly furnished by his daughter, Elizabeth Fisk 
Otis of Albion, Mich. 

Theophilus Capen Abbot, A. M., LL, D., was born in Vassalboro, Maine, 
April 29, 1826. While a mere lad his father moved to Augusta, Maine, 
where his early school days were spent, and where preparation was made 
for entrance into college. That the close scholarly habits for which Dr. 
Abbot was so remarkable, were not alone peculiar to his mature years is 
evinced in the fact that he graduated from Colby University, Waterville, 
Maine, at the age of nineteen, and was considered by an alumnus of the 
college, as one of the most scholarly graduates that had ever left the uni- 
versity. After graduation Mr. Abbot taught in an academy in Vermont 
for a portion of a year, and then for some years taught in a seminary in 
northern Maine, taking long vacations, which were spent in pursuing a post- 
graduate course in the college at Waterville. During this time, he taught 
chemistry and the higher mathematics. During the early years of our own 
College, Professor Abbot taught mathematics, and his readiness, and ability 
to make even dry hard mechanics and conic sections fascinating was often 
commented upon by the students. 

He next took a two-year's course in the Bangor Theological School, after 
which he taught Greek at Colby University for one and one-half years. 

At this time Professor Abbot made his first visit to Europe, where he 
spent a good part of a year. He was specially delighted with Northern 
England and Scotland, which was partly owing to his extended knowledge of 
English literature. 

In 1856 Professor Abbot came to Michigan, and taught a part of a year 
at Berrien Springs. In 1857 he was employed to take charge of the Union 
school as it was then called at Ann Arbor, which also prepared many students 
for the University. During this year he was called to the professorship of 
English literature at our College. The position was accepted, but owing 
to his engagement in Aim Arbor he could not enter upon its duties till the 
summer of 1858. 

Mr. Abbot was professor of English literature beginning February 5, 
1858 till 1866; was treasurer of the College so long as it remained under the 
charge of the Board of Education, — and was secretary for the next two years, 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 389 

and virtually secretary of the College till 1871. In February 1863 Professor 
Abbot was unanimously chosen president, much to his surprise, and greatly 
to the delight of the students, who had already come to look to him for 
advice and direction, even as to a father. In 1866 his professorship was 
changed from English literature to logic and mental philosophy. In 1870 
he received the degree of LL. D. from the University. 

In July 1860, when Professor Abbot was married at Ami Arbor, the students 
soon learned that in these nuptials, not alone Professor Abbot, but each 
student was made richer, for now each one had two wise, thoughtful, and 
true friends, in place of one before. C. B. Colhngwood, '85 said: "The 
key note of Dr. Abbot's character was simplicity, and genuine, honest modesty 
and he left an indelible impression on this College." 

It is not necessary to speak of President Abbot's peculiarities as a man 

to the ex-students of the College. All have too long revered him for his 

'retiring modesty, his thorough interest in all the students, his Christian 

courtesy, and heart kindness, which could never suffer him to forget any 

person who might need aid or advice. 

He ever showed in all his associations, a truly judicial mind, which seldom 
permitted him to err in his judgments or actions. If biased at all it was ever 
on the side of kindness and leniency. He always trusted largely to the good 
sense and manliness of the students, and rare indeed was such trust betrayed. 

As a teacher President Abbot rarely ever had a superior. He had that 
most desirable power which impelled students to their best efforts, even 
though he spoke no word to urge or blame. 

As President, Dr. Abbot showed an eye single to the grand object for 
which the College was established. Nothing could swerve him from a course 
which should ever keep in view the aid and promotion of agriculture. While 
other colleges switched off the line, and so lost the regard and friendship 
of the farmers, our College has ever been true to the farmers' interest, and has 
constantly grown stronger and stronger in their affections, so that today it 
stands impregnable, fortified, as it is on all sides by the support and regard 
of Michigan's able farmers. All honor is due to President Abbot for such 
wisdom, and firmness which has resulted in placing the College as the first of 
our industrial colleges. Adopted from a sketch by President O. Clute. 

He was a man of medium size, rather thin, loosely built, round shouldered 
the right one the higher, appearing poorly dressed, no matter how skillful 
his tailor. He was near sighted, always wearing glasses; without skill in the 
use of tools. Physically, President Abbot was never strong. Some years 
since the writer heard him say that he had never known a time, since he 
entered college, when he was free from pain. Often his headaches, which 
were his constant companion from youth, were almost unendurable. He 
was hampered by poor health. He had a genial manner, deep melodious 
voice and at once made a stranger feel easy in his company. 

A year in Europe during 1873-74, failed to restore his health. He was a 
patient, persistent plodder with very little initiative. His temperament was 
in the highest degree optimistic. As a sample of his designing while living 
in house number seven, he carried out a plan for a drive to his west door in 
this way: From the highway then as now south of faculty row, he left it at 
a right angle for the south where there is still (1913) a drive, at a certain 
point he turned a square corner going due west till he was northwest of the 
house, turned another right angle passing clue south to a point a little east of 
a double sugar maple of his own selection and planting. 

Executive duties were never to President Abbot's taste. Study and 



390 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

teaching were ever his dehght. In the faU of 1879, he urged upon the State 
Board of Agriculture, the wisdom of retiring him to a professorship and 
placing some j^ounger, stronger man in the president's chair. 

On November 24, 1884, when Dr. Abbot resigned as president, he was 
elected professor of mental philosophy and logic continuing through 1889, 
when he was continued as Emeritus Professor of these subjects. About this 
time he ceased to be troubled with severe headaches. 

President Clute said of him: ''Quietly, gently, without suffering, the 
dissolution went on. Month by month, year by year, the body became more 
feeble, the brain became less able for its work. For six years his wife and 
daughter cared for him with all gentleness. Every want was attended to, 
every comfort was supplied. At length in the morning of Monday, No- 
vember 7, 1892, his day of freedom came." 

It will be noticed that the professor is said to have been much surprised 
when elected president, as he with many others supposed, of course, that the 
Board of Agriculture would elect Professor Fisk president, since he had 
served three years as president pro tempore. Dr. Miles told the writer that 
his interview with members of the Board induced them to select Abbot 
instead of Fisk. Although surprised Professor Abbot felt complimented by 
the choice. He rarely, if ever, afterwards saw anything amiss in the plans 
and schemes of Dr. Miles. When Governor Bagley with the aid of four out 
of six members of the Board insisted on the resignation of Dr. Miles, Presi- 
dent Abbot expressed his keen regret at the action and for a long time after- 
ward seems to have lost his guiding star, — his chief reliance. 

The author adds: President Abbot always made the best of everything, 
oven sometimes apparently slightly coloring his reports after the manner 
ef an optimist. 

On July 5, 1860, Mr. Abbot married Sarah Merrylees, a teacher in the 
Union school in Ami Arbor, where he met her while a teacher in the same 
school. She was born in Lerwich, Shetland Islands near Scotland, March 
2, 1828. She died at San Gabriel, California June 22, 1911 and was buried 
in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Lansing. She was an estimable woman, thoughtful 
of neighbors and students and rendered her husband much valuable as- 
sistance in his duties as president of the College. 

Children: Mary Mouat, (Mrs. C. M. Moore) deceased, Joseph Rodney, 
'84, San Gabriel, California. 

For remarks of 0. Clute see Michigan Board of Agriculture, p. 157, 1892. 

George Thompson Fairchild, A. M., acting president from May 1873- 
May 1874. See Professors. 

*Edwin Willits, a. M., president of the College 1885-89 was born at Otto, 
Cattaragus county, New York, April 24, 1830. He received his primary 
education in the common schools of Washtenaw county, and entered the 
State University, graduating from the literary department with the class 
of '55, and later won the degree of A. M. from the same institution. After 
finishing his course at the University, Mr. Willits entered upon the study 
of law in the office of ex-senator Christiancy of Monroe, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1857. He was very successful in his practice of the law and 
reached a position of prominence among the lawyers of south-eastern Michi- 
gan. Notwithstanding his success in this direction he was attracted from 
his profession by his adaptability to school labors and his fondness for edu- 
cational pursuits. From the time of his graduation, he was more or less 
interested in educational affairs, either as an instructor or as an officer in 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



391 



some department in the school system of Michigan. As a teacher he won 
marked success in the schools of Adrian, and he was afterwards actively 
interested in the business affairs of the Monroe schools. He was for twelve 
years, from 1861 to 1873, a member of the State Board of Education. In 
1882 he w^as made principal of the State Normal School at Ypsilanti, which 
position he filled with gratifying success; the officers as well as the students 
of that institution very much regretted the necessity which called Mr. Willits 
to his new field of labor. He was thus not a man unskilled in educational 
affairs, but enjoyed a wide and varied experience, extending through a 
number of years, and was moreover intimately and practically acquainted 
with the school system, and with the educational institutions of our state. 

He also occupied political positions of prominence, and was for many 
years a leading member of the Republican party in the state. He was 




EDWIN WILLITS. 



prosecuting attorney of Monroe county from 1860 to 1862, and was post- 
master of the city of Monroe from 1863 to 1866. Mr. Willits was also a 
member of the constitutional commission, which was selected in 1873 to 
revise the state constitution. He was elected to the 45th, 46th and 47th 
congresses from the second district, comprising the counties of Monroe, 
Washtenaw, Lenawee, and Hillsdale, he having received large majorities 
over one of the most popular men of the Democratic party in that district, 
a district which was then Democratic. This speaks well for Mr. Willits' 
popularity at home. Mr. Willits was one of the most able and cultured men 
who had represented the state of Michigan in the United States Congress. 

Aside from his law practice he had the advantage of a practical business 
of several years as editor of the Monroe Commercial. 

President Willits was a most genial man, whom the faculty respected 



392 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

and the students revered. The dormitories were never neater and more 
orderly than during his administration. 

In 1889 he was called from the College to the position of first assistant 
secretary of agricmlture at Washington and with the change of administration 
was removed by Secretary Morton in 1894. He had entire oversight of the 
department (exhibit of agriculture for the Exposition held in Chicago, 1893. 

In '89 when Ex-president Willits returned from Washington to give the 
commencement address to those he left in the senior class, the students 
in a body met him over the hill at the west entrance to the campus, and 
greeted him with round after round of applause, and then marched to a 
central portion of the cam]:)us. How many of the presidents of M. A. C. 
under like circumstances would have been thus received? 

After President Willits had been at the head for about a year, appeared 
the following in the Speculum from the pen of the student editor: "As our 
very last editorial work, we desire to testify in favor of the rapid strides 
at advancement this College has made since first we entered her classic 
halls. Then she was at the low water mark. Now she is nearing the high 
water mark. May it be a high one towards which she will always be striving. 
In every department, marked improvement is notic(^d. In many ways has 
she been str(>ngthened. M. A. C. has a bright future ])efore her. She has a 
mission to p(^rform, an obligation to pay. In the still of night, she hears 
a voice from the Future, imploring her to be true to her sacred trust. May 
coming years show that '86 went forth into the world fully prepared for 
life's battle- — for defeat or victory. May it be '86's privilege to look back 
with pride on her 'Old Alma Mater.' " 

He occasionally called at the office of each member of the faculty and 
sympathetically discussed their present and prospective plans. It is no 
disparaging statement to make that no president of the College was as 
popular with the students as Mr. Willits. 

A. J. Cook says of him: "With President Willits came a change in the 
management of the College. I think it was a sad mistake, not to say a 
disastrous oiu;. Before this, changes in internal management were suggested 
and all new a])pointments to the faculty were nominated by the president, 
but only after fullest conference with and approval of the faculty. The 
board only confirmed. No college board ought ever to do more. With 
President Willets came a lamentable change; I feel sure without his desire. 
Additions to the faculty and startling changes in the internal management 
were made, with no consultation at all with the faculty, and at times, I think, 
without the knowledge of the President." Selections thus made from time 
to time in the opinion of the writer have been the cause of setting the College 
back in its progress fully fifteen years. 

The "lamentable change" referred to during the administration of Presi- 
dent Willits, began during the latter part of the administration of President 
Abbot, while Hon. Henry Chamberlain was chairman of the committee on 
employees. To some extent, at least, this unfortunate custom was kept up 
for many years. 

He married Jane Ingersoll. Their only child survives, and is George 
S. Willits, an attorney in Chicago. They were members of the Presbyterian 
church. He died at Washington D. C, October 24th, 1896. 

As before mentioned he was cordial, approachable, enthusiastic, ready 
to meet a professor in need more than half way, which was very encouraging. 
President Willits was about six feet tall, straight, well proportioned, filling 
out his clothes well, having a full beard, heavy dark hair and eye-brows; 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 393 

in fact he was a handsome man with many winning ways. No man ever 
walked the campus who on many occasions was so enthusiastically received 
as President Willits, possibly excepting that quiet fellow afterward known 
as Coach Brewer. 

Following are items taken from the Memorial Exercises: 
Franklin Wells said: "I became very much impressed with his person- 
ality. I was delighted with his frankness and candor." 

Mr. Willits said to the Board: Gentlemen — Can I make the Agricultural 

College a great and useful institution, a power for good in the State? If 

I can't, I don't want to consider your offer for one moment." 

H. B. Cannon '88, (At one time Mr. Willits' Secretary) : 

''The student body almost at once recognized in him a master hand in 

administration. There was an atmosphere of hope about him. The students 




OSCAR CLUTE. 

were proud of their president. The venerable look of the man, his fatherly 
ways, his eagle's eye — all impressed us and moved us. He captured audience 
after audience among the farmers. He never slept without fearing that 
something might go wrong and many a night when we were sound asleep 
he was pacing the campus, keeping watch and ward. 

"He tried to encourage order and cleanliness in every way." 

W. A. Taylor, '88, said: 

"I have not known another man of such strong views as his who was at 
heart so tender and merciful. (In disciplining students)." 

*OscAR Clute, M. S., was born near Albany, New York, March 11, 1837. 
In 1868, he married Miss Mary Merrylees, sister of the wife of President 
Abbot, by whom he had six children. He died in the Soldiers' Home, near 
Los Angeles, California, January 27, 1902. Until seventeen years of age, 



394 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

he was on the farm or in school, and always strenuously active in mind and 
body. At seventeen, he was elected principal of the Binghampton schools, 
Shiawassee county, which position he held for two years, when he entered 
the Susquehanna Academy for one year. He was then elected principal 
of the Ionia (Michigan) schools, from which position he resigned the next 
year to enter the sophomore class of the Michigan Agricultural College. He 
was graduated from this College in 1862. During his senior j^ear in college 
he taught classes in the preparatory department, and on graduation was en- 
gaged as instructor. The next year, he was elected to a professorship. He 
served the College for four years, when he resigned to take a course in theology 
at Meadville, Pennsjdvania. On graduation from the Theological Academy, 
he accepted a call from the First Unitarian Church at Vineland, New Jersey, 
where he remained for six years. He ministered in the same capacity at 
Newark, New Jersey, two years; at Keokuk, Iowa, four years; at Iowa City, 
Iowa, seven years; and at Pomona, California, one year. From this last 
church he was called to the presidency of the Michigan Agricultural College, 
which position he held for four years. In 1889, he resigned and assumed 
the same duties at the Agricultural College of Florida, where he remained 
for four years. Soon after accepting his resignation the State Board con- 
ferred on him the degree of LL. D. His health at this time l)ecame greatly 
impaired, and he returned to his old church in California. However, he 
was forced to resign his pastorate because of ill-health, after a few months 
of service. He remained in Pomona, California, until 1891, when he entered 
the Soldiers' Home, where he died. 

"As a student in college. Dr. Clute was very thorough and untiring in 
his effort to reach the first place. As a teacher, he won the respect of his 
pupils and aroused an enthusiasm that secured the best work. While at 
Vineland, he was president of the Pomological Club, which gained largely 
through his influence, more than a national reputation. While at Iowa City, 
he worked very successfully with bees, for the rest and recreation. At this 
time he wrote a very fascinating book. Blessed Bees, which, though fiction, 
was replete with information and passed through four editions. As a preacher 
Dr. Clute was reverent, earnest and eloquent, always a hard student, not only 
of history and literature, but of nature as well. 

"He was scholarly in his habits, and clean and true in his life. I need 
not speak to you of his quick response to duty's call. I must, however, 
give a page or two from the last chapter of his life. He lived near me, and 
I saw him often. He suffered great pain, and led a lonely life. At the last, 
he was in a great room at the Soldiers' Home, and so knew no privacy or 
retirement. To one of his peculiarly sensitive nature, this must have been a 
severe trial. Yet he made no murmur, and never was he more loved and re- 
spected by those closest to him than in those last sad days when pain and 
solitude laid heavy hands on him. He exemplifies in the last hours how real 
Christian character may glorify life, even in the dark valley of the shadow 
of death." 

The above quotation is chiefly copied from a report by A. J. Cook, '62. 

President Oscar Clute was of good size, well proportioned, slightly stoop- 
ing, rather slow of motion, dignified, full dark beard, streaked with gray, 
exact in speech, with a positive air, not particularly jolly or easily approached, 
not demonstrative, sometimes giving offense through objections made to 
a course pursued. Children: William Merrylees, Oscar Charles, Lucy 
Merrylees, Katherine Spencer, Edward Hale, Marion Morrill. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



395 



Lewis Griffin Gorton, M. S., was president of Michigan Agricultural 
College from August, 1893 to December 1895, and director of the Experiment 
Station for most of the same period. 

He was born 1860 at Waterloo, Jackson County, Michigan and grew 
up six feet three inches high, with a proportionate weight of two hundred 
and fifty pounds. He was educated in the common school, graduated from 
the Chelsea high school, and the State Normal at Ypsilanti, at the age of 
nineteen. He soon began and continued to teach for three years, chemistry, 
astronomy, physics and physiology in the Detroit high school, when he 
accepted a similar situation in the Military Academy at Orchard Lake. 
Soon after for two years he served as principal of the Duffield school, De- 
troit; then he became principal of the Bishop school where he remained 




LEWIS GRIFFIN GORTON. 



seven years. From this school he next became president of the Michigan 
Agricultural College. 

He was married and had one son. 

Jonathan LeMoyne Snyder w^as born on a farm near the village of 
Shppery Rock, Butler county, Pennsylvania, October 29, 1859. His name 
indicates that he is of Pennsylvania Dutch descent but in reality a Scotch 
or Irish name would more truly represent his ancestry. 

His early life was not different from that of other country lads who be- 
longed to large families of the old school, except perhaps that there was in 
this family an inordinate ambition for education. They taught school and 
assisted one another until ten of the eleven children received college training. 
The subject of this sketch prepared for college at Grove City Academy and 
took his college course^ at Westminster College, graduating with the class of 



iJ'.Mi 



IIIM'r(»ltV Ol'' IVIK'IIKiAN A(;ill('lll/rill(AI, COLM'KJI';. 



ISS(). lie WilM one ol IJk' Itadliifi, ;il hides dl' lii,s rdllc^/^c diiy.s HIkI UOIi (Uh- 
rniclion itH (Ik^ vvimicr of llic tuiiiiiiil inlcr-isocicl.y dehnic vvliidi wn.s (■((iisidricd 
llic lli^i;ll('Ml- lilciiu'v lnHior al iHiiiiiMc hy itii iimlcr fi,r!Mliiiilc. 

Al'tcf ^riMliialioii he was piiiinpal dl' a villa,n(' h<^Ii()(»I lor one \'car IVdiii 
which |(disiti(ai hi' was called lo I he siipeiinl fiideiicy of (he schdols ol hi:; 
Ilill/lVc CDiiiily III lhi;i |>');uli(iii hi' ai (iiice sel aJioiil, lo iiiciea.se I he illi 
ciciicy ol' hi,s Icachers. To acconiplish Ihi.s end he «'nl('red heajlily inio Ihe 
project, ol' cslaJdishiiiM, in his home village n Slaie NonnnI School which hM,H 
i'of a, iiiiiiiltec ol' yeai'.s raiiUe*! a,H one of the leadiiifi; iioi'iiiaJ .schools ol' {,\\r 
.sImJc. He also introduced a, fi;iiLded course ol study into tJie rural .schools 
which VVMH an advance .step in those days. While he was elected for a, Icrni 
of three years, he resif^ned liefore I lie coinplelion of his second year l.o n,ccept, 




.loNA'l ll,\ N I.P: MOV Nl'; SN S' l)l';i{ 



the principalship (»f the Kifth Ward Schools of Alle^;hen\', now known mh 
North Side I'itislairKh. 

.After se\'en years of service in this position he resiji;ned to accept. th(^ 
|)residencv of the Michifj;an A^ricnll in'al ( 'olle^c. His election dalrs from 
FcWruary'll, IS<Mi. 

His woi'k MS school principal was marked particularly l>\ the inlrodiiction 
into his school of the 1 1 ec kinderji;a-rt(>n, manual t-raininj; and home ecdhomics. 
A separates huildin^ was erected for nuunnU Iraininji; which was the pidueer 
manual Irainiiifi; huildinji; in tha.t. section of flic coimtry. 

Ml'. Snyder after (i;ra(hial ion pursued studies in psycholo^;y aii<l philosophy 
Mild up(»n the completion of a ^;ra(lua-te course Ik- was awarded the deji;i'ee of 
Doctor of IMiilo.sdphy hy his Alma, Maier. 'The llniversily of l\lichi^;aii in 
I'.IOS conferred upon him the de^;ree of Doctor of Laws. 

President. Snyder was married dii .lime ir>, IS'.I'J to ( 'liua, Mauil Milllin 
t)f North Wasliinfi;t()n, I'ennsylvania.. He iusisls that, whatever decree of 
HUCCOHH he may hav(* altaiiuul Iiuh hei'ii due larficiy fo her inspiration and 
I'ouncil. ThcN have three .sons Itorii in l,S<,»:{, I.SUS and liMM). 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH lOS OK TIUISTKIOS AND l-'ACII l/l'Y. 



:{'>7 



Duriiif;- Ills :uliiiiiii,s(f:iti(m ol' iicjiily (wciil.y ycjirs (he sdidfiils in ;i 
aiicd has iiua-ciiscd from approxiinati'ly :{()() l.o now over 2,()()(). 
CliildrcM: liobcrl, '12, IjcMoync and Plumiiicr. 



lend 



FA(!IFLTV. 

('AiiViN 'I'liAcv, A. M., I'l-olcssor of M;d liciii;itics, was horn al Noiwidi, 
Connect lent, .Ian. 2, 1805, livinii; on his lather's iMiin and al lending;, the 
counlry sciiool nnl il lie was twenty-on(^ years of af;'e, when he al (ended coljcfije 
and ^.raduated; he 1,aufi,ht in Norwich Academy, lie went, lo New York, 
and Uiere married (1) Miss Uoweil, who survived hid, lew yeais. While in 
New York he wrote a complete set of arithmetics. 

lie was the first professor (diosen lor the Aj^riciill iir'al ('olie^c; served as 




CAI.VIN 'lltACV 



professor of math<;matics IH57-0(). A little prior to ieaviiiK the ( lollcf^c, 
March 1, 1859, ho married (2) Harriet A. Sessions, a teaclKT in Minw^H 
Ho{i;ers' Female Institute;, Lansinf^, Michigan. While at the ('oWcirc. he shot 
several deer as they foraf^ed on the youn^i; wheat. 

]](' resigned his jiosition at the ( "olje^c, owinji; to ill health, a.nd for the 
rest of his lile conducted an insurance oflice in .North Lansing!;, lie had on*; 
son, M. S. Tracy, who lives in l''ort Wayne, Indiana (MHMj. 

He was a promincftit memher of tin; l'reshyteria,n ("hurch. I'/ofessor 
Tracy di(;d at Lansing, .inly 28, 1889. 

Pnjf(!Ssor A. J. ('ook has this to say of ('alvin Tracy: 

"Among the first of the; professors whose pleasur(! it wan to throw liglit 
into dark i)laces, was our tall, (iager, (!rd,husiastic f)rofessor of n)a,th(!mjiticH, 
Professor (Calvin ''JVacy. He had writt(!n hooks tliat had won hij^h praise. 
His h(!alth was p(jor, as indig(!stion was his constard. companio/i. lie told me 



398 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

more tlian once that he did not know what it was to feel well, and yet how 
i-eady and cheerful he was to help us over hard places! He was not only a 
close student but he was so transparently true that his character rooted in 
the hearts and Hves of his young companions, so that as they went forth they 
had a firm grip on the best things of life. Such genuinely Christian char- 
acter as guided the life of Professor Tracy never fails or ceases to influence 
every life that it touches, to higher thought and endeavor It was jocosely 
remarked that Professor Tracy loved the truly good boys and the digs; 
with his frail health and love for good scholarship, one can easily imagine 
him possessed of such prejudice. Can anyone who participated in those 
m(Mnoral)le geometry contests ever forget the ecstatic ])ride of our teacher, as 
the rapid, accurate work was reeled off as by a whirlwind? No one can know 
of Professor Tracy's life and thorough, earnest work, and not ascribe to 
him a large place in giving to the College its trend and temper. 

"As a teacher. Professor Tracy had that indefinable something that we 
call tact, aptness, faculty. To his wide knowledge and clear statement and 
exact method he added the capal)ility so to present his subject as to interest 
and inspire his students. In the teacher knowledge is essential, clear speech 
and orderly method are essential, but all these fail when faculty is lacking. 

"There was that al)out him that made the sul)ject he was teaching a 
living subject to his students. His strong personality was projected into 
his subject, and so his students were led not only to resp(^ct for the teacher, 
but to that deep interest in the subject that inspiretl them to hard work, and 
that led by and by to noble accomplishment." 

Lewis Hansom Fisk, Professor of Chemistry. (See Acting President.) 

Henry Goadby, M. D., Professor of animal and vegetable physiology 
and entomology, 1857-59, was in active service during the year in 1859. 
He prepared a well illustrated book good for that early period, published 
by Appleton & Co., a copy of which may be seen in the College library. He 
was educated in England, and, as President Abbot told the writer was very 
skillful in dissecting insects and larger animals. Before the close of his 
second year, death overtook him. 

In a report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for 1859, appeared 
the name of Dr. Goadby in connection with that of Professor Abbot, among 
the lecturers at teachers' institutes. 

He was a fellow of the Linnean Society of London; corresponding member 
of the Albany Institute of New York State; honorary mcunber of the Literary 
and Historical Society of (Quebec; primary dissector of minute anatomy 
to the lloyal C -oUege of Surgeons of England. 

He had a wife while at the college and had at least one child. 

James Gunnison of Lansing was a student at the College when Dr. Goadby 
was professor. He said: "Dr. Goadby was a wonderful man, a remarkable 
teacher; he went out with his students collecting and telling all sorts of 
interesting things and taught us to observe. He showed us the circulation 
of the blood in the web of a frog's foot." 

In conversation, he repeated several times, "Dr. Goadby was a wonderful 
man, very skillful." 

David Porter Mayhew, Professor of Natural Science, 1857. He was 
born in Columbia County, New York, 1817; pi'epared for college by Dr. 
David Porter; graduated from Union College 1837; 1838 took charge of 
Louisville Academy, Louisville, New York, continuing for about 15 years; 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



399 



one year each spent in schools of Columbus, 0., and Cleveland, 0.; January, 
1856, began work m the Normal School, Ypsilanti, as teacher of science; 1866- 
71 served as principal, in all 15 years at the Normal, leaving January, 1871, 
for Detroit, where he died in May 1888. 

Although his name appeared as fourth in the list of professors, he was 
never in active service at the Agricultural College. 

Most of the above brief account was furnished b}^ Professor W. H. Sherzer, 
of the State Normal School. 

ROBERT DODD WEEKS 

Robert Dodd Weeks was born at Clinton, New York, April 4, 1819. 
He married (1) September 28, 1843, Elvira Jerusha Crafts of Whately, 




ROBERT DODD WEEKS. 



Mass.; she died at Lansing, Michigan, February 18, 1858; (2) September 8, 
1859, Mary Ann, daughter of Nathan and Julia (Strong) Creene of Clinton, 
Michigan. 

Mr. Weeks, like his father and brother, learned the printer's business, 
beginning at home under the instruction of his father; assisted in his father's 
school at the same time prosecuting his own studies; worked at his trade 
about two years in New York City, a part of the time in charge of an office; 
summer of 1843 he was on a farm in New York; after marriage resided in 
Whately, Massachusetts, farming on a small scale; assisted in his father's 
school 1845-6; taught a public school at Newark, New Jersey, 1846-1851; 
returned to his farm, remaining until 1856, then removing to Bowen's Prairie, 
Jones County, Iowa, where he bought a farm, on which he continued one 
year; in 1857 he was secretary and professor of English literature and farm 
economy in Michigan Agricultural College; autumn of 1857 resigned and 
was employed in the office of the auditor general of Michigan until 
February, 1860; appointed to a clerkship in the office of the Mutual Benefit 



400 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Life Insurance Co., Newark, New Jersey, which he held for many years; 
deacon in the Congregational Church at Whately and in East Orange, New 
Jersey; elder in the Presbyterian Church, Newark; deacon in Trinity Con- 
gregational Church of Orange; served on school committee in Whately. 
Author of ''Jehovah Jesus," also of the New Testament, translated from the 
Greek, published by Funk & Wagnalls Co., New York, 1897, a copy of 
which was given to the library of M. A. C; also author of a genealogy of the 
family of George Weeks of Dorchester, Mass., 1635. 

Somewhat liberal in regard to the philosophy of religious doctrine, posi- 
tive of the essential truths of Christianity; an early Abolitionist; a Republi- 
can from the fomidation of the party; from boyhood an advocate of total 
abstinence from all intoxicating drinks, as well as from tobacco. From 1872 




JOHN CLOUGH HOLMES. 

resided until death in his own house, East Orange, New Jersey. Died 
February 23, 1898. 

Children: William Rufus, died when about 3 years of age; Rufus Wells, 
Vice President of New York Life Insurance Co. ; Lucy Raymond (Trimble) ; 
Robert Griswold, lawyer; George Frankhn, an editor in San Francisco, 
California; Emma Roberts, adopted. 

The items chiefly furnished by his son Rufus. 



JOHN CLOUGH HOLMES. 



John Clough Holmes was born September 25, 1809, at Salem, Massachu- 
setts. On August 30, 1840, he married Jane C. Palmer, born in Detroit, 
August 30, 1822, daughter of John and Jane Palmer. Mrs. Holmes 
died March 8, 1884, leaving no children. They attended the Presbyterian 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 401 

Church. In person Mr. Hohnes was of medium height, rather stout, with 
a round, pleasant face, clean shaven, very neat in dress, and exact in speech. 
They were very prompt and regular in their home at meals and in keeping 
engagements. He came to Michigan in 1835 and went to work in the store 
of John and Mason Palmer. He was a member of the firm of his father-in- 
law, John and Mason Palmer of Detroit, remaining with John Palmer after 
Mason Palmer withdrew from the firm. In 1846 the Detroit Horticultural 
Society was organized, Mr Holmes becoming president in 1847. 

He was a member of the Board of Education of Detroit in 1848 and 1849; 
secretary of the Michigan State Agricultural Society from its organization 
in 1849 to 1857. 

In 1852 he established the Farmers' Companion and Horticultural Gazette, 
afterward united with the Michigan Farmer; he was professor of horticulture 
and treasurer 1857-58; professor of horticulture and secretary of the Agri- 
' cultural College 1860-62. Portions of these periods he was not on full duty, 
owing to the limited means at the disposal of the College and the primitive 
condition of the College farm. 

He was a member of the Detroit Scientific Society in 1874 and its sec- 
retary from 1877; president of the Wayne County Pioneer Society in 1882, 
and was a member of the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society and 
contributed to its publications for many years. 

Portions of the above were supplied by Bryant Walker, attorney, Detroit. 

Scattered through the early history of the Michigan Agricultural College, 
appears the name of John C. Holmes as the most important agent. 

Michigan was the first to establish an agricultural college supported by 
state aid, because she happened to be able to include among her citizens 
J. C. Holmes, the enterprising and persistent secretary of the State Agricul- 
tural Society. Through his influence more than that of any other person 
or of all persons combined, his unceasing labor induced others to adopt his 
plans, thus an early establishment of the Agricultural College. 

He not only urged the establishment of the Agricultural College, but he 
persistently advocated the establishment of a college separate from the 
State Normal School or the State University. Of his work. President Abbot 
said: "To no one man is the College so much indebted as to John Clough 
Holmes. Into the project of establishing the School of Agriculture and 
Horticulture he entered with singular zeal and devotion. He collected 
information from all quarters, and there were no features of organic law 
which he had not discussed with those best qualified to give advice, and 
none of them that do not show his shaping hand. During nearly the whole 
legislative winter of 1855 he was in Lansing diffusing a knowledge of the 
plan and awakening an interest in it and this was done at his own private 
expense. He did much to lay out and beautify the grounds and give the 
College 'a right start.' Mr. Holmes died at Detroit, December 16, 1887. 

Theophilus Capen Abbot, A. M., LL. D., Emeritus professor of mental 
philosophy and Jogic, 1890-92. Professor of English literature 1858-6Q. 
Professor of civil and rural engineering and lecturer 1860-61. 

Professor of history and English literature 1861-66. 

Professor of mental philosophy and logic, 1866-89. 

President, 1862-1884. 

See Presidents. 

51 



402 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



George Thurber, M. D. The following is adapted from Professor A. J. 
Cook's contribution to the Semi-Centennial of Michigan Agricultural College. 

''Dr. Thurber was a great favorite among all the students. The exceeding 
pleasure that came to me in the multidinous walks with Dr. Thurber and 
the love of natural science that came as he opened the great book of Nature 
in his marvelous fashion, awaked in me a loving appreciation that has deep- 
ened with the years. Dr. Thurber's government work had given him rich 
opportunity to solve Nature's problems, and he improved them to the utmost. 
His telling service in the horticultural department, and his exceptional 
ability to make science clear and fascinating, constituted seed of the right 
kind, when agricultural education was first taking root. Except for his own 




GEORGE THURBER. 



lamentable failing for drink what a power for good he might have become, 
in this first Agricultural College." 

S. M. Millard '84 said of him: 

"From 1860 to 1863 Dr. George Thurber was professor of botany and 
horticulture. He was a genius, original, a great botanist, an old bachelor, 
and eccentric; to the student who showed any signs of talent for botany 
he was interested and devoted, but Dr. Thurber had no use for a stupid 
student. He was a scientist, but not a teacher in a college of miscellaneous 
students. His peculiar disposition caused him to have favorites among the 
students, which resulted in jealousy and indifference among those not favor- 
ites." 

Professor Thurber was never married. He died April 2, 1890, at his 
home near Passaic, New Jersey. 

A service in memory of Dr. Thurber was held in the College chapel on 
Sunday, April 20th, at which the following persons participated: President 
Clute, Dr. Beal, Dr. Miles, Professor Cook. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 403 

The following Is adapted from the American Agriculturist, 1890. 

Professor George Thurber, A. M., M. D., was born Sept. 2, 1821, at Provi- 
dence, Rhode Island. After leaving school and making preparation, he 
engaged in the drug business, during which time he devoted much time 
to chemistry and botany. He became intimate with Dr. John Torrey, Asa 
Gray and Louis Agassiz, and through their influence, in 1850 he was appointed 
a member of the United States and Mexican Boundary Survey for the pur- 
pose of studying the flora of that little known region. 

One of the cacti collected was Cereus Thu7-heri, since extensively planted 
for its fruit on desert regions of North Africa. 

A genus of grasses, Thurheria, was named for him by Dr. Bentham. From 
1853 to 1856 he was employed in the United States Assay Office. The 




MANLY MILES. 

following three years he spent chiefly in the study of his botanical collections. 

He became editor of the American Agriculturist. By competent judges he 
was considered the most accomplished horticultural writer of his time. 
Besides contributing large numbers of editorials and notes concerning scien- 
tific topics in great variety, his "Notes from the Pines" and his "Doctor's 
Talks" attracted much favorable comment. 

The degree of Master of Arts was conferred by Brown University and 
Doctor of Medicine by the New York Medical College. 

Dr. Thurber rewrote Darlington's Agricultural Botany with the new title 
American Weeds and Useful Plants, prepared many articles on botany for 
Appleton's Cyclopedia, and described the grasses for the Botany of California, 
known as a portion of the Geological Survey. His judgment was sound, his 
memory excellent. 

Manly Miles, M. D. Professor of practical agriculture and superin- 
tendent of the farm, 1865-75. 



404 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Professor of zoology and animal physiology, 1861-65. 

The following is chiefly adapted from a sketch in the Popular Science 
Monthly, vol. 54, April 18, 1899. 

To Dr. Manly Miles belongs the distinction of having been the first pro- 
fessor of practical agriculture in the United States, as he was appointed to 
that newly instituted position in the Michigan Agricultural College in 1865. 

Professor Miles was born in Homer, Cortland County, New York, July 20, 
1826. When Manly, the son, was eleven years old, the family removed to 
Flint, Michigan, where he employed his time in farm work and the acquisi- 
tion of knowledge and later in teaching. He studied geometry while follow- 
ing the plow, drawing the problems on a shingle, which he tacked to the 
plow-beam. Whenever he was missed and inquiry was made about him, 
the answer invariably was, "Somewhere with a book." He was most in- 
terested in the natural sciences, particularly in chemistry in its applications 
to agriculture, and in comparative physiology and anatomy, and was a 
diligent student and collector of moUusks. He was also an accurate and 
reliable student of birds, fishes, reptiles and minerals. 

Choosing the profession of medicine, Mr. Miles was graduated M. D. 
from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1850, and practiced till 1859. In 
the meantime he became greatly interested in the subject of a geographical 
survey of the state, for which an act was passed and approved in 1858. 
In the organization of the survey, in 1859, he was appointed assistant state 
geologist in the department of zoology; and in the next year was appointed 
professor of zoology and animal physiology in the Michigan Agricultural 
College at Lansing. 

He was a "born collector," as the phrase is, and his keen eyes, tireless 
industry, and mathematical precision led to the accumulation of thousands of 
valuable specimens and more valuable observations." 

Mr. Bryant Walker, of Detroit, who knew Professor Miles well in later 
years, and had opportunity to review his zoological work, regards the part he 
took during this service in developing the knowledge of the fauna of the 
state as having been very prominent. "The catalogues he published in the 
report for 1860 have been the basis for all work since that time." 

Mr. Walker believes that "In general it can be truthfully stated that 
Dr. Miles did more to develop the general natural history of that state 
(Michigan) than any other man either before or since he completed his 
work as state geologist." 

With a thorough knowledge of science and familiarity with practical 
agriculture. Professor Miles had an inclination to enter this field, and this 
inclination was encouraged by President Abbot and some of the members 
of the Board of Agriculture. He had filled the professorship of zoology and 
animal physiology with complete success, and had he consulted his most 
cherished tastes alone he would have remained there, but he gradually 
suifered himself to be called to another field. The duties of "acting superin- 
tendent of the farm" were attached to his chair in 1864. In 1865 he became 
professor of animal physiology and practical agriculture and superintendent 
of the farm; in 1869 he ceased to teach physiology and gave his whole time 
to the agricultural branch of his work; and in 1875 the work of the superin- 
tendent of the farm was consigned to other hands, and he confined himself 
to the professorship proper of practical agriculture. 

Professor Miles was even more popular than before with students, and 
created an enthusiasm for operations and labors of the farm which had been 
regarded before as a disagreeable drudgery. The students "were never 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 405 

happier than when detailed for a day's work with Dr. Miles in laying out 
some difficult ditch or surveying some field." 

Professor Byon D. Halsted, of the New Jersey Agricultural College Experi- 
ment Station, who was an agricultural pupil of Dr. Miles in Lansing, char- 
acterizes him as, "Having been a full man who knew his subjects deeply and 
fondly. In those days, I am safe in writing, he represented the forefront 
of advanced agriculture in America. He was in close touch with such men 
as Lawes and Gilbert, of Rothamstead, England, the famous field-crop 
experimenters of the world, and as for his knowledge of breeds of live stock 
and their origin. Miles' Stock-Breeding is a classic work. Dr. Miles, in short, 
was a close student, a born investigator, hating an error, but using it as a 
stepping-stone toward truth. He did American farming a lasting service, 
and his deeds live after him." 

It was next to impossible for Dr. Miles to work intimately with others 
•without having his own way, hence he remained only a few years in four 
different positions. He was arbitrary and was forced to resign his position 
in 1875, and then accepted, at an increased salary, the professorship of 
agriculture in the Illinois State University. Thence he removed to the 
Houghton Farm of Lawson Valentine, near Mountainville, New York, where 
he occupied himself with scientific experimental investigation. He was 
afterward professor of agriculture in the Massachusetts Agriculture College, 
at Amherst. 

When Professor Miles began to teach in the Michigan Agricultural College, 
the "new education" was new indeed, and the text-book method still held 
sway. But the improved methods were gradually taking the place of the 
old ones, and Professor Miles was one of the first to co-operate in them, 
and he did it with effect. He used text-books, "but his living word," Presi- 
dent Clute says, "supplemented the book; and the animal from the farm, 
under his knife and ours, the shells which he led us to find under the rotten 
logs and along the rivers and lakes, the insects he taught us to collect and 
classify, the minerals and fossils he had collected on the geological survey 
of Michigan, all were used to instruct and inspire his students, to cultivate 
in them the scientific spirit and method." 

Among the more important books by Professor Miles are Stock-Breeding, 
which had a wide circulation and has been much used as a class-book; Experi- 
ments with Indian Corn, giving the results of some important work which 
he did at Houghton Farm; Silos and Ensilage, which helped much in diffus- 
ing knowledge of the silo in the times when it had to fight for recognition; 
and Land Drainage. Of his papers, he published in the Popular Science 
Monthly articles on Scientific Farming at Rothamstead; Ensilage and Fer- 
mentation; Lines of Progress in Agriculture; Progress in Agricultural Science; 
and How Plants and Animals Grow. To the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science he contributed papers on Energy as a Factor in 
Nutrition; and Limits of Biological Experiments. Other articles in the 
American Naturalist were on Animal Mechanics and the Relative Efficiency 
of Animals as Machines. In the Proceedings of the American Educational 
Association is an address by him on Instruction in Manual Arts in Connec- 
tion with Scientific Studies. 

He was married in 1851 to Miss Mary E. Dodge, who remained his de- 
voted companion until his death, which occurred February 15, 1898. In 
July 1913, Mrs. Miles Hved in Lansing, Michigan. 

Manly Miles: — A dry goods box lay at North Lansing depot, marked 



406 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

"M. Miles." An Irishman, reading the address, innocently remarked: 
''I wonder how many miles that is." 

In his report for 1906, President Snyder says: 

"Manly Miles was connected with the institution as a professor from 1861 
to 1875. Much of his work was at least a quarter of a century ahead of his 
time. His experiments in lamb-feeding in 1866 would be a credit to any 
experiment station at the present day. Who was Doctor Miles? Dr. 
Burrel, Vice-president of the University of Illinois, in speaking of the call 
extended by that institution to Dr. Miles in 1870 says, 'No one else in America 
at this time enjoyed anything comparable with Dr. Miles in the public esti- 
mation of competency to give instruction in scientific agriculture. It was 
he who had been called the only professor of the subject in the country.' " 

In 1873 his favorite driving team consisted of a small light bay chub of 
a horse with heavy tail, carrying his head low — seldom breaking from a trot; 
his "mate" was a rather rangy, though not large, Arabian, spotted, with 
light mane and tail, lame in one hind leg. His gaits were numerous, con- 
flicting, changeable, but never going easily beside the bay. The team 
was the laughing stock of all lovers of horses. 

In 1871, earlier and later, while Dr. Miles was at the College, when the 
legislature was in session, he made it his business to look after the College 
bills, making trips to town several times a week for a month or more. He 
told the writer long stories about his management and the tricks he adopted 
to get the bills through. These manoeuvres didn't tend to make it easier 
to get bills through in succeeding legislatures. 

In the biography of Dr. Miles reference is made to him as arbitrary and 
underhanded. In the M. A. C. Record, vol. 3, April 5th, President Clutc 
says: "His work was not appreciated, and he was not sustained. Weary 
and disappointed, he resigned in 1875." The writer explains his resignation 
in another way, as he was professor of horticulture at the time. Governor 
Bagley was in his second term; he had selected through his four members 
of the Board four out of six W. H. P. Marston as secretary, a most unfortunate 
appointment. Mr. Marston learned much of Dr. Miles and told the Gov- 
ernor, who also gathered later from other members of the Faculty. Dr. 
Miles' plans for work were generally appreciated, and his ability recognized, 
but the Board could not endure the man's methods of work with his associ- 
ates. He was defiant when asked to resign, because he had a standing offer 
to go to Illinois at a higher salary. 

Robert Clark Kedzie, A. M., M. D., D. Sc, LL. D., was born in Delhi, 
New York, January 28, 1823 and died at Agricultural College Michigan, 
November, 7, 1902. He emigrated with his parents during the year 1826 
to the valley of the Raisin in Lenawee County, Michigan. When seventeen, 
he entered Oberlin College, working his way through, graduating in 1846. 
He then took charge of Rochester Academy, Michigan, for two years; en- 
tered the Medical College of the University of Michigan and received the 
degree of M. D. with the first class of that institution in 1851. He practised 
medicine in Kalamazoo and Vermontville for eleven years; served as surgeon 
in the 12th Michigan Infantry for one year and then began his long career 
as professor of chemistry at Michigan Agricultural College on February 
25th, 1863, a position which he held continuously for over thirty-nine and 
one half years. 

In 1898 the Michigan Agricultural College conferred upon him the degree 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



407 



of D. Sc; and in 1901 the University of Michigan conferred the degree of 
LL. D. 

He was president of the Michigan State Board of Health from 1877-81, 
and for some years very active in the work of the society; president of the 
Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science from August 1887 to 
August 1889, and an able contributor to the Proceedings. 

He was a member of the house of representatives of Michigan in 1867; 
president of the Michigan Medical Society in 1874; president of the American 
Public Health Association in 1882; active in the Sanitary Council of the Miss- 
issippi Valley; vice-president of the American Medical Association; chairman 
of the Section of Chemistry in A. A. A. S. in 1891 ; president of the Association 
of Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations in 1899. 




ROBERT CLARK KEDZIE. 



From 1888 to 1894 he experimented and ascertained that southern Mich- 
igan was well adapted to growing sugar-beets; in 1885 secured the passage of 
a law providing for the inspection of commercial fertilizers; assisted in 
securing the passage of the act establishing a state food and dairy commis- 
sion, and was the first appointed state analyst. 

He was a favorite teacher; exposed many frauds in the sale of articles 
of food; in fact, he was ever on the watch, ready to fight frauds of all kinds. 

Dr. Victor C. Vaughan, in characterizing his career said: "I know of no 
man who has done so much for the betterment of human life. He was the 
first to investigate the dangers of arsenical wall papers and to inaugurate 
legislation looking to the discontinuance of their manufacture. He also 
investigated the dangers of inferior illuminating oils, and legislation safe- 
guarding the people against them was enacted. Dr Kedzie has been justly 
called 'the father of the beet sugar industry in Michigan.' 



408 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



"As a member of the State Board of Sanitation he was a leader. He 
accompUshed things. The state of Louisiana, through his efforts, inaugu- 
rated a quarantine at New Orleans, the first thing of its kind in the world, 
and when Asiatic cholera appeared at the port of New York, it was largely 
because of his agitation that it was possible to say, 'Thus far shalt thou come 
and no farther.' " 

Children: William K., 70; Robert F., 71; Frank S., 77. 

Albert N. Prentiss, M. S., was enrolled as an advanced student late in 
1857. With some periods of interruption, caused by ill health or teaching, 
he continued as a student until the fall of 1861. He was thus a student 
at the Collegejn the first part of its formative period. Among his fel'ow 




ALBERT N. PRENTISS. 



students he was, from the first, well liked, but his reserve of manner, which 
was thrown off only with the few, prevented him from being popular in the 
broad sense of that word. But the boys trusted him entirely and respected 
him fully for his ability, his industry, and his thorough genuineness. 

With the professors he was always among the first, for his clear and strong 
faculties, his observance of every duty, and his thorough self-respect com- 
manded their attention. The quiet force of his character soon gained their 
confidence and he was chosen by Professor John C. Holmes, and later by 
Professor George Thurber, as foreman of the gardens. 

The boys of the class of '61 were to graduate in November. In September 
Captain E. P. Howland appeared at the College, seeking men for his corps 
of engineers. After some consultation among faculty and students, it was 
agreed that members of the senior class could enlist, be absent from the 
College the remainder of the year, and be granted their diplomas in November. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 0^ TRUSTEES AISTD FACULTY. 4o0 

Mr. Prentiss and others enlisted in Captain E. P. Rowland's Topographical 
Engineers under J. C. Fremont. 

Fremont's successor said he had no need of a Company of Topographical 
Engineers and they were allowed to choose between joining some other 
branch of the service or being mustered out. 

Prentiss spent the year in teaching in the high school at Kalamazoo. In 
the spring of 1863 he was chosen instructor in botany and horticulture at 
M. A. C, and returned a few weeks later to the scenes of his student days. 
He had full charge of the department and it began at once to show evidence 
of his clear and systematic methods. The students in his classes were 
deeply interested in their studies, their garden work was done with pleasure, 
for though the conditions for such work were then comparatively crude, 
the boys recognized in Professor Prentiss one who knew what he was about, 
who desired to give them the best instruction in science and the best train- 
ing in practical matters, and who rcvspected their rights and feelings. 

In 1869 he was called to the chair of botany and horticulture in Cornell 
Univeristy, where he remained for nearly thirty years. 

Oscar Clute, instructor of mathematics at the time Prentiss was instructor 
in botany, gives a glowing account of their camping together at Park Lake, 
during the summer recess, "to fish, to hunt, to boat, to bathe, to botanize, 
to loaf and invite our souls. How full of calm pleasures were the days and 
nights of our life in camp!" 

It is seldom that one has met a person whose whole mental and spiritual 
atmosphere was so pure and wholesome as was that of Albert N. Prentiss. 
In all the varied scenes and associations of student, soldier, and professorial 
life he showed always the clean mind and heart. His sensitiveness led to an 
almost undue fastidiousness of speech and conduct. No one at heart was 
fuller of good comradeship than he, but to many people he seemed reserved 
and formal. Only after friendship and confidence had conquered this re- 
serve did the warm-hearted man, with genuinely human qualities, appear. 
Then he was frank, genial, sympathetic. Yet it is to be said that only with 
a few was he ever able entirely to throw off his reserve. He could not " carry 
his heart upon his sleeve for daws to peck at." 

Prentiss liked his work as horticulturist and as teacher. The true horti- 
culturist is a lover of nature; he rejoices in her varied forms, in her enchant- 
ing tints. Added to this love of nature he must have the artistic genius 
to work with nature in so disposing flowers and shrubs and trees and grasses 
and brooks and ponds and distant gleam of stream or lake or sea — all in a 
marvelous setting of cloud and sky — as to make the whole landscape a 
picture that throbs with the spirit of beauty. 

In teaching, as in everything else, Prentiss went quietly and intently 
about his work and did the work. He knew the subjects he taught; he had a 
clear mind without any fogs of conceit or superstition; his command of the 
English language was excellent; he could understand and appreciate the 
difficulties of the student. He went directly to the point, roused the interest 
of his students by his own quiet earnestness, led them to work with eagerness. 
His lecture platform was never a place for browbeating the timid or tlu; 
incompetent, or for taking an unfair advantage of some slight lapse of duty 
and holding the delinquent up to ridicule. Nor were his lectures strewn with 
stale stories and ancient jokes whereat the afflicted students were expected 
to laugh or else suffer diminution in their daily marks. In his classes there 
were no traditions handed down from year to year as to passages in certain 



410 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

lectures where tlie fishy odor would demand the' tribute of their ehii)ping 
hands. 

Prentiss was mainly a worker rather than a speaker or writer. He taught 
well, but he wrote very little about teaching. He was an accomplished 
botanist but the journals have few contributions from his pen. 

He married Adaline Eldred in Dryden, New York, on April 2nd, 1878. 
She graduated from Cornell University in 1883 with the degree of B. S.; 
In 1885 with the degree of M. S. ; attended Elmira College, New York, 1861-63; 
Philadelphia Medical College for Women 1872-73; attended the New York 
Medical College in 1876, securing the degree of M. D. 

Perhaps his reticence was, in a measure, due to ill health. He was never 
robust. Scarcely was his daily strength sufficient for the daily work of the 
classroom and campus. He used what power he had in doing what he was 
in honor bound to do. 

Professor Prentiss died at his home on the Cornell campus at Ithaca, 
New York, August 15th, 1896. 

(The above is mostly adapted from President Oscar Clute.) 

S. M. Millard of '64 said of him: 

''In personal appearance Professor Prentiss was tall, slim and frail; refined 
in contact with his fellow students, always gentle and approachable. He 
was looked upon as a superior in intellect and in personal bearing. He had 
no enemies. 

"As I look back upon his personality and upon his native characteristics 
I have of late years placed him with the type of man illustrated by Robert 
Louis Stevenson — physically weak, mentally dreamy and poetical in thought. 

Prentiss may be said to have been original. He never seemed to like tht; 
harness of a professor; he was a student in his own original methods." 

George Thompson Fairchild, A. M., the youngest of a family of ten 
children, was born October 6, 1839, in a small frontier town of Brownhelm 
in northern Ohio. He died at Columbus, Ohio, March 16, 1901. His 
parents, Grandison Fairchild and Nancy Harris, were Puritans. Owing 
to delicate health, as a child he received private instruction, and later went 
to Oberlin College. After finishing the classical course at that institution, 
he studied Theology. On November 26, 1863, he married Charlotte; Pearl 
Halstead, a Hicksite Quaker from western New York, herself a graduate of 
the College. 

From 1865 to 1866 George T. Fairchild was instructor in English literature, 
1866 to '79 professor of English literature in the Michigan State Agricul- 
tural College, and acting president from 1872 to '73. This position he 
filled and in addition filled the offices of assistant secretary of the faculty, 
librarian, teacher of moral philosophy and French, professor in charge of 
the students' rhetoricals and professor in charge of the students' curriculum 
of study. While thus busily engaged, he also built up the College library 
and organized a plan of student government. In 1879 he was called to 
the presidency of the Agricultural College of Kansas, which was then in its 
very lieginning. Eighteen of the best years of his life he devoted to de- 
veloping this institution and to making its influence felt through the State 
Board of Education, the Association of Agricultural Colleges and Experi- 
ment Stations of which he was at one time president, and the National 
Teachers' Association of which he was president of the section on industrial 
education. 

The part taken by President Fairchild in the framing of the Morrill Act 



felOGRAtHiCAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



411 



is not geiicnilly known. Tlii.s hill was opposed by the; ( Jrangc, on the ground 
that the funds of the agricultural colleges, which came from the sale of public 
lands had hitherto not been used for the teaching of agriculture, but for 
other things in which they are not interested. Dr. Fairchild framed the 
clause, limiting the use to be made of such funds, which secured the passage 
of the Act. 

In 1897, the Populist party for a brief period controlled the Kansas state 
legislature and because, as individuals, the members of the faculty of the 
college did not agree with the Populistic ideas, the Board of Regents de- 
liberately terminated the official connection of every member of the faculty. 
President Fairchild resigned and did everything in his power to prevent 
this political invasion from injuring the institution to which he had given 




GEORGE THOMPSON FAIRCHILD. 



SO many years of his life. When the revolution was reversed he was urged 
to resume his position, but declined, with the remark that "A new man can 
do more for the College than I can." Upon his retirement from active 
work in Kansas, he spent a year in the preparation of his book, Rural Wealth 
and Welfare. Later he took up the task of organizing the industrial and 
agricultural departments of Berea College in Kentucky. It was while vice- 
president of this institution that he was stricken with the disease which 
led to an operation in Columbus, Ohio, under which he died. 

Professor A. J. Cook says of him: "He will ever be most affectionately 
remembered by the students of those thirteen years as a ripe scholar, a 
thorough, accurate teacher, and, best of all, as a Christian gentleman whose 
faith was ever shown by his works. There was a universal lament when he 
was called to a higher place in a sister college." 

While George was president at Kansas Agricultural College his brother 
Henr}'- was president of Berea and his brother James at Oberlin. 



4l2 



History or^ Michigan agricultural college. 



To illustrate his unselfishness: at one time while president of Kansas 
Agricultural College, the Board voted to raise his salary, which he declined 
to accept, with the remark that the professors of the College needed the 
money more than he did. 

Much of the above was furnished by his son, David G. of Washington, D. C. 

Albert John Cook, M. S., D. S., was born on his father's farm near 
Owosso, August 30, 1842. His father, Ezekiel Cook, was a native of Eastern 
Massachusetts; his mother, Barbara Ann (Hodge) Cook, was born at Albany, 
New York. Received B. S. from Michigan Agricultural College, 1862; M. S., 
1865; D. Sc, 1905; studied at Harvard 1867-'68; married (1) Mary H. Bald- 
win of Dayton, O., June 30, 1870; (2) Mrs. Sarah Eldredge, of Pasadena, 




ALBERT JOHN COOK. 



California, July 3, 1897. Instructor in mathematics, 1867-69; professor 
of zoology and entomology, 1868-93; curator of the general museum, 1875-93; 
entomologist of the Experiment Station, 1888-91, Michigan Agricultural 
College; professor of biology, Pomona College, Cahfornia, 1893-1911. Con- 
ductor of university extension work in agriculture. University of California, 
1894-1905; first to make kerosene emulsion (1877) and to demonstrate and 
advocate the use of the arsenites as a specific against the coddling moth, in 
1880. While in Michigan he was a member of the society for the promotion 
of agricultural science. 

Author: Manual of the Apiary; Injurious Insects of Michigan; Silo and 
Silage; Maple Sugar and the Sugar Bush; Birds of Michigan. Address: 
Sacramento, California. In religion, Congregationalist; politics. Progressive 
Repubhcan. Children, Hon. Albert Baldwin, born Aug. 11, 1873, class of '93; 
Katherine E. (Briggs), born Jan. 3, 1875, class of '93. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 413 

Professor Cook is an optimist, a genial teacher, a tremendous enthusiast 
in his work with his students, a Christian gentleman. He was of eminent 
service to the Michigan State Horticultural Society and one of the best men 
at a farmers' institute the writer has ever known. In 1911 he was appointed 
State Commissioner of Horticulture for California, with headquarters at 
Sacramento. In 1913, the alumni of the College contributed the money 
to pay for a portrait which was presented by one of his pupils, Hon. L. 
Whitney Watkins. 

Dr. Cook furnished some of the above items. 

William Warner Tracy, M. S., D. S., son of Stephen Tracy of Hartford, 




WILLIAM WARNER TRACY. 

Connecticut, and Alice Hewitt (Dana) Tracy, was born at Hudson, Ohio, 
May 21, 1845. 

He married (1) Marv Bartlet Woodbridge of Massachusetts, November 18, 
1870. (2) Mattie Flanduan, March 3, 1903. 

Mr. Tracy was educated at Philhps Academy, Andover, Mass., and at 
Michigan Agricultural College, graduating in 1867 with the degree of B. S.; 
in 1870, M. S., in 1907, D. Sc. 

He is a Protestant with no political affiliations. He was foreman of the 
conservatory, 1868; instructor in horticulture and superintendent of the 
grounds, 1869-70; professor of horticulture and superintendent of the gardens, 
1870-72; seed growing at Old Mission, Michigan, 1873, for seven years, 
superintendent of seed growing for D. M. Ferry and Company, for 28 years; 
now an expert of vegetables and annual flowers. At one time he had a son 
in each of four classes, freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Children: 
William W., '93; Harry W., '94; Stephen W., '96; John E. W., '96; Katherine 



414 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



W., Alice W., George W. Address: U. S. Department of Agriculture. 
Dr. Tl-acy supplied some of the facts above used. 

William James Beal, Ph. D., D. S., son of William Beal and Rachel S. 
(Comstock) Beal, born 1833, March 11, Adrian, Michigan; married, 1863, 
September 2, by William Rhodes, Hannah A. Proud, daughter of John and 
Ann (Moore) Proud, farmers, Medford, New Jersey and Rollin, Michigan; 
Hannah A., born 1837, April 28, Medford, New Jersey; died December 22, 
1909, East Lansing, Michigan. 

W. J. Real's boyhood was spent on the farm with a year in the grist mill; 
attended Raisin Valley Seminary and Lodi Academy; entered the classical 
course of the University of Michigan in 1855, graduated 1859 with degree 




WILLIAM JAMES BEAL. 



of A. B.; taught natural sciences in Friend's Academy, Union Springs, New 
York, 1859 to March 1861; entered Harvard University 1861, to study with 
Asa Gray, Louis Agassiz and Jeffried Wyman; 1863 to 1868 teacher in How- 
land Institute, Union Springs, New York, excepting one semester at Harvard 
in 1865, where he graduated with the degree of S. B.; professor of natural 
history, 1869-71, at the old Chicago University and lecturer in several schools; 
1870, July 9, lectured in botany at Michigan Agricultural College; professor 
of botany and horticulture, 1871-81; professor of botany and forestry 1881- 
1902; professtjr of botany 1902; of a correspondence university, Ithaca, 
New York and Chicago, ' 1898; Sc. M., Chicago University, 1875; Ph. D. 
(Hon.) University of Michigan, 1880; D. Sc, Michigan Agricultural College, 
1905; Fellow A. A. A. S., president of Section F, 1888 and first president of 
the Botanical Club of that society; first president of botanists of United 
States Experiment Stations, 1888; first president of Michigan Academy 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 415 

of Science, 1894; first president of the Society for the Promotion of Agricul- 
tural Science, 1880; secretary of the American Pomological Society, 1881-85; 
president of the State Teachers' Association, 1882, and of the college Section, 
1893; director of the State Forestry Commission, 1888-92; member of the 
Botanical Society of America; lecturer Capitol Grange 540 for five years; 
maintained a grass garden, 1873-1910; a botanic garden, 1877-1910; an 
arboretum, 1873-1910; a weed garden for 20 years; installed a botanical 
museum, 1880-1890; taught botany over 40 years, 1870-1910. 

His books: The New Botany; Grasses of North America, 2 vols.; Seed 
Dispersal; General Catalogue of the Agricultural College; Glossary of Bo- 
tanical Terms; 9 Elementarj^ Science Bulletins for Schools; 2 Weed Bulletins; 
Michigan Flora. The alumni furnished a portrait in 1913 which was per- 
sonally presented to the college by Hon. J. W. Beaumont. 

For further details see his report in the Board of Agriculture for 1910. 

Mrs. Beal was connected with affairs of the Michigan Agricultural College 
for nearly forty years, when it was new and struggling with only six pro- 
fessors. Few of the students of to-day, (1909) can form any conception of 
how much Mrs. Beal meant to it. Cut off by three miles of rough road, 
the College was forced to live much to itself. Its life was that of a large 
family and of that family many of the students remember Mrs. Beal, truly, 
as the mother. She cheered many a homesick boy; she watched faithfully 
at the bedside of more than one that was sick. Her home was always open 
and at time of reunion, always crowded. At one gathering she moved, with 
her husband, into the attic of the botanical laboratory, that there might 
be more room for company in her home. In the community she was a 
leader in deeds of charity to the poor and afflicted. In late years she was 
a member of the King's Daughters, who in 1912 endowed a room in the 
Lansing Hospital in her name. 

Children: Jessie Irene, '90, born 1870. (Mrs. Ray Stannard Baker.) 
Infant son, born 1873, June 3, North Lansing, Michigan; died 1873, June 4. 

Oscar Clute, M. S., professor of mathematics, 1865-67. 
(Bee President.) 

Alfred Buck Gulley, son of Alfred G., of Rhode Island, and Mina 
(Buck) G., of New York, was born December 22, 1819, at Potsdam, New 
York. 

He married Sophia Augusta Abell, at Dearborn, Michigan, December 6, 
1846. 

His education was chiefly obtained in the common school. He was a 
farmer and gardener of high rank at Dearborn, Mich. 

He held minor town offices; was a member of the legislature in 1851 
Professor of practical agriculture at Michigan Agricultural College, 1875-76 
superintendent of farm and gardens, January, 1876 — November, 1877 

He was a genial gentleman and very thorough in whatever he undertook 
He died at Dearborn, Michigan, March 15, 1891. 

Children: Alfred Gurdon, '68; Frank Arthur, '80; Richard Herbert, '78; 
Orrin Preston, '79: Sarah M., Ribert E., three deceased while young. 

Charles Lee Ingersoll, M. S. To those of us who knew him he needs 
no word of commendation nor of reference to the perfect character denoted 
by the term "Christian gentleman." 



416 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 





j^ 


. 


"■''''' i''^ J 


i 





ALFRED BUCK GULLEY, 




CHARLES LEE INGERSOLL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 417 

Of the graduates from M. A. C. who have taken high position as educators 
in the field of agricultural science none stood above him. 

At the age of 18 he enlisted from Commerce, Oakland County, as private 
in the 9th Michigan Cavalry, March 7, 1863, and was mustered out July 21, 
1865. His regiment took part in the battles of Burnside's advance in eastern 
Tennessee, leading up to the Gettysburg campaign, and it was a part of 
General Sherman's army in its march towards the sea. 

At the close of the war Mr. IngersoU married and was farmer and teacher 
for a few years, when he then entered M. A. C. in 1872 and graduated with 
the class of 1874, being considered one of the best scholars in that class. 
Immediately on graduation he was appointed foreman of the farm, under 
Professor GuUey, whom he succeeded as professor of agriculture and super- 
intendent of the farm, a year later. 

In 1879 he accepted a similar position at increased salary at Purdue Uni- 
versity, Indiana, and from there went to Colorado in 1881 as director of the 
experiment station, professor of agriculture, and for a time was also president 
of that college. 

In 1890 he was called to Nebraska State University at Lincoln, as dean of 
the Industrial College and director of the Experiment Station. 

In his report for 1879, President Abbot says: ''Besides his instruction 
in the classroom, and his care of the farm, he has been active in promoting 
the good of the College in many ways. The Christian Union always found 
him a ready and valuable worker, as one of its officers, and as teacher or 
superintendent in its Sunday scho6l. To his knowledge and enthusiasm 
the College cadets owe, more than to any other one, their efficiency in drill 
and in target practice. He was the captain of the company. Professor 
IngersoU was a valuable officer in every department of his labors." 

He died at Grand Junction, Colorado, at the home of his brother, De- 
cember 8, 1895, after a lingering illness caused by creeping paralysis. He 
left a wife and one daughter. 

RoLLA Clinton Carienter, M. S., C. E., M. M. E., LL. D. was born 
at Orion, Michigan, June 26, 1852; son of Charles K. and Jennette (Coryell) 
Carpenter. He graduated from Michigan Agricultural College 1907 with 
the degree of B. S.; married Marion Dewey of Greenville, Michigan, 1876; 
instructor and professor of mathematics and civil engineering, Michigan 
Agricultural College, 1875-90; associate professor of engineering at Cornell 
University, 1890-1905; professor of experimental engineering, since 1895. 
Consulting engineer for Helderburg, Cayuga Lake, Quaker Portland, Great 
Northern, Belleville Portland and California Portland Cement Companies, 
etc. He constructed numerous power stations for electric railways and 
has had active charge of many engineering constructions; patent expert in 
several important cases. Judge of machinery and transportation, Chicago 
Exposition, 1893 and Buffalo Exposition, 1901. Member of the American 
Society of Mechanical Engineers (v. p. 1908-11), American Society of Mining 
Engineers, Engineers' Club (New York), American Society of Heating and 
Ventilating Engineers (president in 1898), American Society of Automobile 
Engineers (member of Council), American Society of Refrigerating Engineers. 

Author: Experimental Engineering (6 editions), 1890, 1902; Heating and 
Ventilating (5 editions), 1891, 1902; The Gas Engine (with Professor Died- 
richs); numerous papers in trans., etc. 
53 



418 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




SAMUEL JOHNSON 





ROLLA CLINTON CARPENTER 



ELIAS JOHN MacEWAN. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 419 

Dr. Carpenter is an Episcopalian; usually a Republican. 

Children: Naomi, George, Charles. Address: Ithaca, New York. 

(The above is mostly copied from "Who's Who in America.") 

Samuel Johnson, M. S., son of Squire Johnson, of New Jersey, and 
Adelia (Hotchkin) Johnson, of Canaan, Connecticut, was born at Spring- 
field, Otsego County, New York, July 7, 1839. 

He married, (1) September 1864, Eliza A. Clark, of Phelps, New York. 
She died April, 1874. (2) June, 1876, Sarah B. Hall, of Dowagiac, Michigan. 

He w\as educated in the common school and at Cazenovia Seminary, New 
York. 

He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and in politics a 
Republican. 

He engaged in teaching and farming at Warren, New York, and Dowagiac, 
Michigan; was professor of practical agriculture of the Michigan Agricultural 
College, December, 1879-August, 1889; agriculturist in the experiment 
station, Fel^ruary, 1885-89. 

He was a township officer, 1864-1870; county superintendent of schools, 
1871-1874; representative in the state legislature, 1877-1880; secretary of 
the State Agricultural Society, 1891; president of the Farmers' Mutual 
Fire Insurance Company, of Cass County, 1900-1912. 

Children: Ahce A., '84; Clara, Henry H., Philip S., Emily E. 

Address: Dowagiac, Michigan. 

Elias John MacEwan, A. M., son of Donald MacEwan, of Scotland, and 
Harriet (Thatcher) MacEwan, of Cuylerville, New York, was born June 25, 
1851 in Lowell, Michigan. He married (1) Esca Babcock, of Galesburg, 
Michigan, September, 1868; (2) Ada Little, of Manhattan, Kansas. He 
was educated in the public school at Lowell, Michigan; Grand Rapids high 
school; State Normal; Kalamazoo College, with A. B., in 1875; A. M. in 
1877; 1875-78, principal of Kalamazoo high school; 1878-80, principal Colby 
Academy, New Hampshire; 1880-1890, professor of English literature and 
modern languages at Michigan Agricultural College; in 1886-87, fellow at 
Johns Hopkins University; 1891-92, student in Berlin University. 

1892-02 professor of English and German, Utah State College; 1892 
professor of English literature, Kalamazoo College. 

He is a Baptist and a Republican Mugwump. 

Childron: (By second wife.) Ada Marie, Charlotte, Donald, Dongred. 

He is the author of Technique of the Drama; Essentials of Argumentation; 
Essentials of English Sentence. 

The Speculum, September, 1889, says: 

"In losing Professor MacEwan the College loses a man whose place cannot 
be filled. The very memory of the action will stand as a ghastly and for- 
bidding landmark of injustice which will be an effectual bar to the best 
interest and prospects of the College in the future. 

Because of Professor Pattcngill's pointed and truthful editorial in the 
Moderator, the Board absurdly found him obnoxious to the College, since 
offensive to them. We have lost, by the deposition of Professor Pattengill, 
one of the most efficient and popular instructors that ever conducted a class 
in this College. The hearty good-will existing between him and the students 
is shown by the resolutions of his class to him and his reply." 

Two good Professors were lost to the College, MacEwan and Pattengill, 



420 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




ALEXANDER JAMES MURRAY. 





GEORGE HATFIELD HARROWER 



JAMES SATTERLEE. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 421 

on account of something said concerning the act of a member of the State 
Board of Agriculture. 

President Willets once said, "If you were to rake the whole state over 
with a fine-tooth comb, you couldn't get a better man to turn loose among 
our freshmen than that man Pattengill." 

Alexander James Murray, V, S., was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, 
February 13, 1836. His father's name was John, born in the county of 
Caithness, Scotland; his mother's maiden name was Janet Sutherland who 
was born in the same county. He married Elizabeth Owens, a native of 
Ireland. Mr. Murray attended three elementary schools, a high school, 
school of arts for three years, and the University of Edinburgh. He is a 
Presbyterian and in this country a Republican. He studied with reference 
to practicing law, but in 1859 he began veterinary in a school in Edinburgh, 
remaining there three years where Dr. John Gamgee was the principal, 
graduating in 1862; was soon demonstrator of anatomy at the same College; 
gave a course of lectures at the Royal Agricultural College, England ; attended 
clinics under Professor Henry Bouley at Alfort Veterinary School near 
Paris; 1865-66 veterinary inspector of the cattle plague in Britain and two 
other regions; 1866 came to Detroit, Mich, and began practice. Soon after 
he became the city veterinary inspector and inspected horses for the street 
railway, until 1896, when electricity superseded horses; in 1880 Governor 
Croswell appointed three cattle commissioners who selected Dr. Murray 
to act in cases of Texas Fever then appearing in Wayne county, serving 
also two years under Governor Jerome. While in Detroit he went to the 
Agricultural College beginning 1881, delivered for two years courses of 
lectures on veterinary, summer terms of 1881 and 1882. In 1887 he wrote 
a book for the Breeder's Gazette and was veterinary editor of that magazine; 
1898 cattle inspector for the Bureau of Animal Industry at San Diego, 
California. 

Owing to ill health in 1904 he went to El Paso, Texas where he practices 
his profession. 

Children: Jessie, James, Emma, Rudolph S., E. S., Gregory, Maud, 
Bertha, John. 

George Hatfield Harrower, A. B., was born at Sand Lake, New York, 
January 18, 1855. His father was Peter B. Harrower, living near Albany, 
New York, his mother was May (Simonds) Harrower, of Burlington, Vermont. 

He married in Buffalo, Sarah E. Bryant, of North Tonawanda, New York. 

Mr. Harrower, graduated from the University of Michigan in 1878, with 
the degree of A. B., studied at Berlin, 1885-86; at Halle, Germany, 1886-87, 
where he received the degrees of M. A. and Ph. D. 

In religion a Christian, in politics Independent. He taught the classics 
in the high school in Grand Rapids, 1878; 1881-83, instructor in history and 
pohtical economy, at M. A. C; 1883-85, professor of the same; 1887, assist- 
ant professor of Latin, University of Michigan. Contractor in architectural 
iron and steel, Buffalo, New York. He was a genial and efficient teacher, 
well prepared for his work. Many of his friends were surprised when he 
quit teaching. 

Children: None. Residence: 410 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, New York. 

James Satterlee, M. S., son of Henry Satterlee, of Corinth, New York, 
and Harriet (Fay) Satterlee, of Livingston county. New York, was born 



422 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




LIBERTY HYDE BAILEY 





EDWARD A. A. GRANGE. 



JOHN ALEXANDER LOCKWOOD. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 423 

near Greenville, Michigan, March 4, 1847; married Ella L. Grossman of 
Lansing, Michigan, on December 29, 1870. 

His education was acquired in the district school and in schools at Green- 
ville; in- 1869 he graduated at M. A. C., with the degree of B. S.; 1874, M. S. 

He is an Independent Republican and a member of the Baptist Church. 
From 1869-82 he was farming near Greenville, Michigan; 1883-84, professor 
of horticulture; 1885-89; clerk in the office of Michigan State Board of Health; 
1889-90, clerk in the office of New York State Agricultural Society; 1890- 
1904, on his farm near Greenville; 1904, part of the time on his farm near 
Ann Arbor and part of the time on the road for D. M. Ferry & Company; 
1910, treasurer of the State Horticultural Society. 

They had one child, John C, soon deceased. Address: (in 1911) 306 
Ottawa Street, Lansing, Michigan. 

Edward Alexander Andrew Grange, V. S., M. S., was the son of 
George John Grange, of Ireland, and Mary (Dawson) Grange, of England. 
He was born in England; married Bessie Webster at Guelph, Ontario, about 
1893. He graduated from Ontario Veterinary College, Toronto, Canada, in 

1885, with the degree of V. S.; from Michigan Agricultural College in 1908, 
with the honorary degree of M. Sc; lecturer for a time in Ontario Agricul- 
tural College; professor of veterinary science at M. A. C, 1883-1897; state 
veterinarian, 1885-97; veterinarian in the Experiment Station, 1888-92; dean 
of the veterinary department of the Detroit Medical College, 1897-99; veter- 
inarian for Park, Davis Company, Detroit, 1899; lecturer on the promotion 
of Comfort and Care of Animals for the American Society of Prevention 
of Cruelty to Animals, 1899; principal of Ontario Veterinary College, begin- 
ning about 1908. He was a very capable man as lecturer at M. A. C. and 
efficient as the state veterinarian. 

Children: three, one deceased; the names not furnished. Address: Toron- 
to, Ontario, Canada. 

John Alexander Lockwood, M. S., son of Surgeon J. A. Lockwood of 
U. S. Navy, Dover, Delaware, and Julia (McLane) Lockwood, of Wilming- 
ton, Delaware, was born in Dresden, Saxony, October 31, 1856. Not married. 

Educated on U. S. Schoolship at Chase, and at U. S. Infantry and Cavalry 
School; 1887, honorary M. S. from Michigan Agricultural College; served 
in U. S. Army as lieutenant and captain; served on staffs of governor 
of Louisiana and governor of California; while 2nd lieutenant, 17th In- 
fantry U. S. Army, professor of military science and tactics, 1884-87. 
Mr. Lockwood was the first officer assigned to Michigan Agricultural College 
by the U. S. Government. In 1911, probably sooner, he was retired. 

Address: Care of War Department, Washington, D. C. 

Liberty Hyde Bailey, M. S., was born in South Haven, Michigan, March 
15, 1858. He was the son of Liberty Hyde Bailey and Sarah (Harrison) 
Bailey; reared on a farm; B. S., Michigan Agricultural College, 1882; M. S., 

1886. He married Annette Smith, of Lansing, Michigan, June 6, 1883. 
Has given paracular attention to botany and horticultural subjects, and to 
economics of agriculture, agricultural education, and general rural questions; 
assistant to Asa Gray, Harvard, 1882-83; professor of horticulture and 
landscape gardening, Michigan Agricultural College, 1885-88; professor of 
horticulture in Cornell, 1888-1903; director of the college of agriculture 
since 1903, Cornell University. Awarded Veitchian medal, 1898; chairman 



424 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




LEWIS McLOUTH. 




WILLIAM FREDERICK DURAND. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 425 

of the Roosevelt Commission of Country Life; fellow American Academy 
of Arts and Sciences; member American Philosophical Society; member 
of the Society of Plant Morphology and Physiology; member of the Society 
of Horticultural Science; member of the Society for the Promotion of Agri- 
cultural Science, 

Author: Survival of the Unlike; Evolution of our Native Fruits; Lessons 
with Plants; Botany, an Elementary Text for Schools; Beginners' Botany; 
Principles of Fruit-Growing; Principles of Vegetable Gardening; Plant 
Breeding; Garden-Making; Horticulturists' Rule Book; Principles of Agri- 
culture; Nursery Book; Forcing Book; Pruning Book; Practical Garden 
Book; The Nature Study Idea: Outlook to Nature; The Training of Farmers; 
Manual of Gardening; The State and the Farmer. 

Editor: Cyclopedia of American Horticulture, 4 vols.; Rural Science 
series; Garden-craft series; Rural Text Book series; Cyclopedia of Agriculture, 
4 vols. Contributor to technical journals and popular magazines. 

1907, LL. D. from Wisconsin University. Brought up a Congregationalist. 
Democrat by preference. Children: Sara Mary, Ethel, Xoe. 

Address: Ithaca, New York. 

(The above is chiefly copied from Who's Who in America.) 

Lewis McLouth, A. M., Ph. D., son of Farley McLouth, of Cheshire, 
Massachusetts, and Mary (Doty) McLouth, of Windom, New York, was 
born September 21, 1835, near Rochester, New York. He married, 1859, 
Sarah A. Doty, of Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

He was a student at Oberlin College, Ohio, and later graduated in the 
University of Michigan in 1858, with the degree of A. B.; 1860, A. M., M. 
Pd., State Normal School; Ph. D., Hillsdale College, Michigan. In reUgion 
he was Methodist Episcopal; in politics an Independent Democrat; member 
of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. In succession he was principal of an academy 
at Lapeer, Michigan; an Academy at Ontonagon, Michigan; Principal of 
the High School at Monroe, Michigan; superintendent of schools, of Monroe 
County and of Battle Creek, Michigan; professor of physical sciences in 
Michigan State Normal for fifteen years; president of the State Teachers' 
Association; professor of mechanics in Michigan Agricultural College, 
1885-86; president of the South Dakota Agricultural College and director 
of the Experiment Station. In 1902 he lived at Longmeadow, Massachusetts 
and served as dean of the faculty of the Home Correspondence School. 

Dr. McLouth was a man of commanding figure and striking personality^ 
one with whom it was a pleasure to meet and converse. It is doubtful if any 
teacher was ever more beloved by his pupils or more successful in impressing 
the stamp of character upon them. In 1908 he was called back to the South 
Dakota Agricultural College to preach the baccalaureate sermon and had the 
pleasure of attending the 50th reunion of his class at the University of Mich- 
igan. 

He died, March 15, 1909, at New Britain, Connecticut. 

Children: Frances, Mary, Lawrence A., Sarah, Bessie C, Farley, Lewis 

C, Ida B., Benjamin F. 

William Frederick Durand, Ph. D., was the son of William Leaven- 
worth Durand and Ruth (Coe) Durand; he was born at Beacon Falls, Con- 
necticut, March 5, 1859; graduated from U. S. Naval Academy, 1880; Ph. 

D. from Lafayette College, 1888. 



426 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Congregationalist and Insurgent Republican; married Charlotte Kneen, 
of Derby, Connecticut, November 23, 1883. 

Mechanical engineer; served in Engineering Corps, U. S. Navy, 1880-07; 
professor of mechanical engineering. Agricultural College, Michigan, 1887- 
91; professor of marine engineering, Cornell University, 1891-1904; pro- 
fessor of mechanical engineering, Leland Stanford, Jr. University, since 
1904, fellow A. A. A. S.; member of American Society of Mechanical 
Engineers; American Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers; 
Franklin Institute; Societe Technique Maritime; life member and gold 
medalist of American Society of Naval Engineers. 

Author: Resistance and Propulsion of Ships, 1898; Fundamental Principles 
of Mechanics, 1899; Practical Marine Engineering, 1901; contributions to 
Engineering Journals. 

Child: William Leavenworth, Address: Stanford University, California. 

Wendell Lee Simpson, son of Emory H. Simpson, of Carlton, New York, 
and Mary A. (Thompson) Simpson, of Leroy, New York, was born at Carl- 
ton, New York. He married Marion O. Wood, Piqua, Ohio, October 19, 
1886. 

He was educated in the public school, Hartford, Van Buren county, 
Michigan; Michigan Agricultural College, Lansing, 1878-79; U. S. Military 
Academy, West Point, New York, — graduating June 15, 1884. 

Not a member of any church organization; in Government Service and 
never took active part in politics; 2nd lieutenant, U. S. Army, June 15, 
1884 to April 20, 1891; 1st heutenant, U. S. Army, April 20, 1891 to 
September 17, 1898; captain, U. S. Army, September 17, 1898 to March 7, 
1907; appointed major, V. S. Army, March 7, 1907; in cavalry service, 3rd 
U. S. Cavalry from June 15, 1884 to January 4, 1887; in the quartermaster's 
department by detail from March 9, 1905 to March 7, 1907; in infantry 
service, except as above stated; professor of military science & tactics, 
Michigan Agricultural College, 1887-91; professor of mathematics and civil 
engineering, Michigan Agricultural Cohege, from August 1890 to April 1891; 
participated in the Cuban campaign as acting Adjutant General, 3rd Brigade, 
1st Division, 5th Army Corps; participated in the Philippine Insurrection, 
1899-1900. In 1911 was on special detail, purchasing and shipping supplies 
to the Isthmus of Panama, necessitated by canal construction, 1908, with 
main office since at 24 State street. New York City. He resided in at 
least 24 places. He died April 23, 1913. 

Children: Bethel Wood; cadet, U. S. Mihtary Academy; graduated in 
class of 1911 with commission of 2nd heutenant, U. S. Army; Dorothy 
Wood; Marian Wood, died October, 1900. 

Address: 24 State Street, New York City. 

Levi Rawson Taft, M. S., was the son of Austin Augustus Taft of Men- 
don, Massachusetts, and Helen Maria (Mather) Taft, of Canton, Connecti- 
cut. He was born at Mendon, Massachusetts, August 22, 1859. 

He married Ella S. Maynard of Northboro, Massachusetts, at North- 
boro, in 1884. Mr Taft was educated in the high school at Mendon; gradu- 
ated in 1882, with the degree of B. S. from Massachusetts Agricultural 
College; assistant Professor of Horticulture in Massachusetts Agricultural 
College, 1882-85; took post-graduate study in zoology and horticulture 
in the University of Missouri, 1885-88. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 427 




WENDELL LEE SIMPSON. 




LEVI RAWSON TAFT. 



428 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



He is a Unitarian and a Republican. Professor of horticulture, Missouri 
University, 1885-88; professor of horticulture and landscape gardening, 
Michigan Agricultural College, 1888-1902; superintendent of farmers' in- 
stitutes and state inspector of nurseries and orchards, 1902 — still serving 
(1913); horticulturist of the Michigan Experiment Station, 1888-1904; 
president of Eveline Fruit and Land Company of Northwestern Michigan, 
1910. In his present work he has brought the management of farmers' 
institutes to a high state of perfection. 

Children: Grace Helen, '04, (Mrs. Edward J. Kunze); Lilhan Maynard, 
'05; Howard Austin, '11; Hazel Charlotte, '10 (Mrs. Edward C. Lindemann); 
Harry Goodell, '12; Ethel. Address: East Lansing, Mich. 




EDWARD PLAYFAIR ANDERSON. 



Edward Playfair Anderson, A. M., Ph. D., was born at Milford, New 
Hampshire, August 29, 1856. His father's name was Edward Coffin Ander- 
son, of East Point, Prince Edward Island, Canada; his mother's name was 
Helen (Best) Anderson, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

Hattie Amelia Baker was born at Romeo, Michigan; educated at Salem 
and at McMinville College, both in Oregon. 

They were married at Salem, Oregon, June 12, 1884. 

Mr. Anderson was educated in the high school, Portland, Oregon; Horton 
Academy, Wolfville, Nova Scotia; Highland Academy of Petersham, Mass- 
achusetts; University of Michigan, A. B. and A. M. in 1879; Ph. D., 1886; 
graduate course at University of Chicago, 1896-97, Stanford University, 
1899-1900. 

Religion, formerly Baptist, latterly Agnostic, in politics Independent. 
Two years professor of mathematics in State Normal School, Mississippi' 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 429 

traveled and studied in France, 1880; student in Medical School of Univer- 
sity of Michigan, 1881-82; 1884-86, teaching Latin, French, German in 
McMinville College, where his father was president; 1886-87 teacher in 
Michigan Military Academy; translating French, high school, Flint, Mich- 
igan; professor of English and history, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio; 
professor of English literature and modern language, August 1889 to August 
1890, at M. A. C.; later taught in Miama University, Ohio; Washburn School, 
California; Stanford University; Portland high school, Oregon, and in other 
places. 

Children: Frank Victor; Ethel Elizabeth; Edward Baker; Helen Best; 
Margaret Playfair; Dorothea; Arthur Baker. Address: 5024 34th Avenue, 
S. E., Portland, Oregon. 




EUGENE DAVENPORT. 

Eugene Davenport, M. S., son of George Martin Davenport, of Ithaca, 
New York, and Esther (Sutton) Davenport, of Monroe, Michigan, was 
was born June 20, 1856, at Woodland, Michigan. 

He married Emma Jane Coats, of Coats' Grove, Michigan, November, 1881. 
He graduated at Michigan Agricultural College in 1878, with the degree of 
B. S.; M. A. in 1884; M. Agr., 1895; LL. D. in 1907. He is a Congregation- 
alist and a Republican. He was farming, 1878-88; studying and assistant 
in botany in the Experiment Station for two terms, 1888-89; professor of 
agriculture, 1890-91; president of Escola Agricola, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, 
Brazil, S. A., 1891-92; farming, 1892-95. 

Dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Agricultural Ex- 
periment Station in the University of Illinois, 1895-to date; secretary of 
the section in education, A. A. A. S. and E. S., and secretary of the section 
in agriculture and chemistry, 1899; member Society for the Promotion of 



430 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Agricultural Science (President 1911-12). Fellow A. A. A. S.; member 
London Authors' Club; N. E. A., A. A. P. P. S.; 111. Acad. Sci.; National, 
Geographic Society; A. Es. As: 

Author: Principles of Breeding; Education for Efficiency; Domestication 
of Animals and Plants. Children: Dorothy, Margaret. 

Address: Urbana, Illinois. 

Howard Edwards, M. A., LL. D., was the son of Francis Marion Ed- 
wards and Frances Lawson (Bland) Edwards of Virginia. He was born in 
Fauquier county, Virginia, November 7, 1854. He graduated from Randolph- 
Macon College, Virginia, 1876, with the degree of M. A.; student in the 
University of Leipzig, 1877-78; the Sorbonne, Paris, 1891-92; received the 




HOWARD EDWARDS. 



degree of LL. D., from the University of Arkansas in 1891; married Mildred 
Elizabeth Smith January 5, 1881. He was associate principal of Bethel Mili- 
tary Academy, 1878-80; teacher in Bingham School in North Carolina, 1880- 
82; principal of Bethel Academy, 1882-84 ; prof essor of Enghsh and modern 
languages in the University of Arkansas, 1885-90; the same position in Mich- 
igan Agricultural College, 1890-1906; president of Rhode Island State Col- 
lege since July 1, 1906'. He is a member of the Kingston Congregational 
Church; in politics an Independent. In Michigan he was highly esteemed 
for his work as a teacher and for his good influence among the students. 

Children: Norman, deceased, Bland, Mildred. Address: Kingston, 
Rhode Island. 

John Jordan Crittendon was the son of Eugene W. Crittendon of Frank- 
fort, Kentucky, and Laura (Bacon) Crittendon, of the same town. He 
was born in Frankfort, Kentucky. He married Rose F. Mitchel, of Port 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



431 



Huron, Michigan on July 31, 1882. Educated in high school and military 
post at Leavenworth, Kansas. He is an Episcopalian.. He was a soldier, 
in the middle west, northwest and southwestern part of the United States, 
in Cuba and the Philippine Islands; 1876, he was made 2nd Lieutenant; 
1882, 1st lieutenant; 1894, captain; 1901, Major; 1905, lieutenant colonel; 
1907, retired from the army on thirty years service. 

Children: John J.; Frank Rice; Wilham Mitchell; Eugene W. 

Address: 1235 Water Street, Port Huron, Michigan. 

Lester Paige Breckenridge was the son of Moses Paige Breckenridge 
and Lucretia L. (Wetherell) Breckenridge, both born at Ware, Massachusetts. 




JOHN JORDON CRITTENDON. 



He was born at Meriden, Connecticut, May 17, 1858. He married, for his 
second wife, Susan Wilson Ford. Mr. Breckenridge was educated in the 
Sheffield School of Yale University, receiving the degree of Ph. B. in 1881, 
M. A. in 1909; Illinois University granted D. Eng. in 1910. In religion, 
he is a Baptist, in politics, a Republican. He was a teacher in Lehigh Uni- 
versity, 1882-1890; professor of mechanical engineering in Michigan Agri- 
cultural College, August, 1891-August, 1893; professor of mechanical en- 
gineering in Illinois University, 1893-1909; a similar position in Yale Uni- 
versity, 1909-to date still serving (December, 1912.) 

As teacher and director of the laboratory at M. A. C. he was a pronounced 
success from every point of view. 

Children by first wife: Blanche F., Gladys S., May H. 

Address: 412 Humphrey street, New Haven Connecticut. 



432 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




LESTER PAIGE BRECKENRIDGE. 




HERMAN KLOCK VEDDER. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 433 

Herman Klock Vedder, C. E., son of Herman M. Vedder, of St. Johns- 
ville, New York, and Kate (Klock) Vedder, of the same place, was born 
October 7, 1866, at St. Johnsville, New York; married September 4, 1889, 
at Ithaca, New York, Kate Humphrey Dodd. Until 1882 he acquired a 
common school education; attended a school year, 1882-83, at Clinton 
Liberal Institute, Fort Plain, New York; fall of 1883 with a scholarship 
won by examination, entered Cornell University, graduating with the degree 
of C. E. He is a member of a Congregational Church; Independent Re- 
publican. 

In 1887, draftsman with the Groton Bridge & Manufacturing Company; 
fall of 1887 was offered a scholarship and, studying structural engineering, was 
soon appointed instructor in civil engineering and remained till 1891. In 
vacation surveyed for Ithaca Water Works Company; selling agent for Groton 
Bridge & Manufacturing Company; inspector of bridges; hydraulic expert 
• in a lawsuit. Professor of mathematics and civil engineering at Michigan 
Agricultural College, September 15, 1891, to July 7, 1909; since then professor 
of civil engineering; during his service at M. A. C. he constructed a sewer 
system, directed numerous surveys, constructed bridges, designed systems 
of plumbing; for outside parties inspecting and building bridges, plotted 
city subdivisions, investigated the water power of streams; engineering for 
electric and steam railroads; planned railroad for Lansing manufactures; 
state examiner of plots 1907 to 1910. 

Member of the Society for Promotion of Engineering Education, 1894- to 
date (1913); member and past President of Michigan Engineering Society. 
He was once school moderator and later president of the school board of 
East Lansing. Children: Norma Dodd, Katherine H. Address: East 
Lansing, Michigan. 

Peter Merrick Harwood, B. S., served as professor of agriculture 
from February, 1892 to August, 1893, coming from Ravenna, Ohio, where 
he had charge of an excellent dairy farm. In 1885 Professor Harwood was 
married to Miss Mary A. Wallace. 

He was born in Barre, Massachusetts, in 1853 and traces his ancestry in 
direct line to John Harwood, 1630. His boyhood was spent on the home 
farm, attending the country school, then the high school, and later he 
graduated, in 1875, from Massachusetts Agricultural College. His father 
died in 1876 and he then took the old homestead and became a breeder of 
fine Holstein-Friesian cattle. 

He was chosen Lecturer of Barre Grange in 1877, '80, '81 and '82. He 
was master of the same Grange in '83, '84 and '85. In 1886 and '87 he was 
lecturer of the Massachusetts State Grange. In 1889 he was chosen a 
member of the executive committee of the Massachusetts State Grange, and 
overseer in 1890 and '91. In 1887-99, he was president of Barre Central Cheese 
Company; a member of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture from 1889 
to 1891, during a part of this time he was a member of the Board of Control 
of the Massachusetts Experiment Station, and of the Examining Committee 
of the college. He was much in demand for work in Farmers' Institutes, 
lecturing widely over the state. 

Children: Eunice, Mary and Alice. Address: 136 State House, Boston, 
Massachusetts. 
55 



434 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




PETER MERRICK HARWOOD. 




EDSON ARTHUR LEWIS. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 435 

Edson Arthur Lewis was the son of John R. Lewis of Oxford, Canada, 
and Amanda (Moore) Lewis, of the same place. He was born February 1, 
1864, at Otterville, Ontario, Canada. He married Mary Ward, who was 
born, educated and married in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated 
from the U. S. Military Academy in 1887. In rehglon Iconoclastic, in 
politics neutral. He was a popular and efficient teacher of military science 
and tactics at M. A. C. He served in the Phihppines, 1900-12, with the 
rank of major, 1892-96. 

Children: Mary, Dorothy, Warfield, Elizabeth. 

Address: U. S. Army, Washington, D. C. 




CLINTON DeWITT SMITH. 

Clinton De Witt Smith, M. S., was born at Trumansburg, New York, 
March 7, 1854, son of Reuben Smith and Clarissa G. (Pease) Smith; grad- 
uated at Cornell University, 1873: practiced law, 1888-90; assistant agri- 
culturist, Cornell University, 1890; director of Experiment Station, Arkansas; 
director of Experiment Station and professor of dairy-husbandry, Univer- 
sity of Minnesota, 1891-93. 

He was elected and served as professor of practical agriculture and super- 
intendent of the farm and agriculturist of the Experiment Station, Sep- 
tember, 1893 to June, 1900; director of the Experiment Station and dean 
of special courses, 1900-08. While connected with Michigan Agricultural 
College he was the means of starting the work in dairying by erecting the 
first building for the purpose and conducting experiments and teaching 
this subject. No man ever connected with the College gave so many accept- 
able lectures among the farmers. He rendered valuable assistance and 
advice in growing sugar-beets. He awakened much interest in the students. 
After graduating at Cornell, Professor Smith and his brother came into 



436 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



possession of the home farm and during seven years paid off a mortgage of 
$12,000.00 in which dairying was the leading business. 

He married Anna Cora Smith of Trumansburg, June 16, 1892. He is 
a member of the Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. In 
1908 he resigned to become president of Escola Agricola, Piracicaba, Sao 
Paulo, Brazil, where he presided for four years. 

In September, 1896, C. J. Strand, editor of the Swifield Se7itmel, said of 
him: 

"Professor Smith was reared on a farm and knows what he is talking 
about, from the ground up. 

"Professor Smith is a rattling good orator. 

"Professor Clinton D. Smith believes with the Grange motto that the 
farmer is greater than his farm and should be first cultivated. 




CHARLES LEWIS WEIL. 



"One of the best speakers in Michigan has been secured, in the person of 
Professor CUnton D. Smith, of Michigan Agricultural College. 

"The band struck up and the multitude repaired to the grove to hear the 
speech. It was the 257th time Professor Smith had addressed gatherings 
of farmers and it was easy to understand his popularity from the start. His 
physique was commanding, his voice clear and resonant, his expression 
genial. From his opening remarks one might have imagined him a prom- 
inent divine. 

In style the speaker was very pointed and at times very epigrammatical, 
abounding in humorous anecdote. His discourse won him a thousand 
friends." 

Children: none; he returned from Brazil in the summer of 1913 and re- 
sumed his residence at the farm home, Trumansburg, New York. 



^ BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 437 

Charles Lewis Weil, S. B., son of Lewis Weil and Anna Moore (Tuttle) 
Weil, both of Massachusetts. The father was born in Germany, the mother 
in North Andover, Massachusetts. Charles Lewis was born in North And- 
over, Massachusetts, in 1866; graduate of Johnson High School, 1881 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1888, with the degree of S. B. 
shopwork and draughting, 1891-93; instructor at Lehigh University, 1891-93 
professor of mechanical engineering and director of the mechanical de- 
partment, at M. A. C, 1893-1906. During the latter period, he designed 
and superintended the construction of the power-, the lighting- and the 
heating-plant, made preliminary plans for the engineering building; main- 
tained an engineering office in Detroit, 1906-10; consulting engineer in 
manufacture of salt, 1910; autumn of 1910 became an officer in the Diamond 
Crystal Salt Company, St. Clair, Michigan; since the summer of 1911 he 




WALTER BRADFORD BARROWS. 

had been a director and has devoted his entire time to this salt company. 

He is an Episcopalian and a Republican; a Mason, honorary member of 
Tau Beta Pi fraternity. He married Ella Shevile Bass, of Brooklyn, New 
York at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1893. 

Children: Henel B., EUzabeth Prince. Address: St. Clair, Michigan. 

Walter Bradford Barrows is the son of William Barrows, of Massachu- 
setts, and Elizabeth Adams (Cate) Barrows, of New Hampshire. On June 
29, 1882, he married at Rochester, New York, Elizabeth Withall. 

He graduated at Reading High School, Massachusetts, in 1872; Mass- 
achusetts Institute of Technology, 1876, with the degree of B. S.; 1876-79; 



438 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



assistant in Ward's Natural Science Establishment, Rochester, New York; 
1879-81. Instructor in chemistry and physics, Colegio Nacional, Con- 
cepcion del Uraguay, Argentine Republic, S. A.; 1881-82, science teacher, 
Normal School, Westfield, Mass.; 1882-1886, instructor in biology, Wesleyan 
University, Middletowii, Connecticut; 1884-86, instructor in botany. 
Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut; 1886-94, first assistant ornithologist, 
U. S. Department of Agriculture; 1891-92, lecturer in economic ornithology, 
Maryland Agricultural College; 1894 — professor of zoology and physiology 
and curator of the general museum, Michigan Agricultural College; 1897-98 
entomologist, Michigan Agricultural College Experiment Station; fellow 
of the A. A. A. S.; fellow of the Ornithological Union; fellow of the Associa- 
tion of Economic Entomologists; member of Michigan Academy of Science 
(Secretary 1896-01; President 1905). He has given special attention to the 




FRANK STEWART KEDZIE. 



migration and economic relations of birds; interrelation of birds and 
insects ; bird population of Michigan, and prepared for the College : Michigan 
Bird Life, noticed under publications. He is an orthodox Congregationalist 
and a RepubUcan. Children: WilUam Morton, class of '03; Marguerite, 
class of '04. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 



Frank Stewart Kedzie was born in Vermontville, Michigan in 1857. 
He was the son of Dr. Robert Clark Kedzie of New York State and Ehza 
(Fairchild) Kedzie of Ohio, both graduates of Oberlin College. 

He graduated from the Agricultural College with the degree of B. S. in 
1877; D. S., 1912. 

He married Kate Marvin at Lansing, Michigan, December 30, 1885. She 
was the daughter of Mathew Marvin and Mary (Gregory) M. of Lansing. 
Mr. Marvin was from New York state and his wife from Virginia. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 439 

Mrs. Kedzie has been an accomplished teacher of music for many years. 

Frank came to the college in 1863 when a mere lad about six years old 
and has lived there and in Lansing for fifty years (1913). In 1880 he began 
teaching chemistry at M. A. C. and has served as instructor, assistant 
professor, adjunct professor, and professor, for a portion of the time assist- 
ant chemist of the Experiment Station. He has been active, efficient, pro- 
gressive and popular. 

Children: None. 

Miss Edith F. McDermott was the first person chosen to serve as 
head of the department of home economics, beginning in September, 1896, 
and continuing till June, 1898. Edith Florence McDermott's father was 
born in Nova Scotia and her mother in Montreal and later lived in Pennsyl- 




MISS EDITH F. McDERMOTT. 

vania. She taught in the State College of Washington. She was a native 
of Meadville, Pennsylvania; received her literary training in the high school 
of that city, and in Allegheny College. She then entered Drexel Institute 
Philadelphia, and later Cornell University and took up the work along the 
fines of domestic economy and household science. After completing this 
work and graduating with honors, she took charge of the cooking and 
domestic science department of a large industrial school. Her work in this 
position was of a very high order and brought her to the notice of many 
prominent educators. She is a woman of thorough training; has more 
than an ordinary amount of tact and general good sense. 

Harry Will Bandholtz was the son of Christopher J. Bandholtz of 
Germany and Elizabeth Bandholtz of New York and was born December 



440 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



18th, 1864 at Constantine, Michigan. He married May Cleveland at 
Chicago, Illinois, July 15, 1890. He was educated in a high school; Mich- 
igan Military Academy, at Orchard Lake; U. S. Military Academy at West 
Point, New York, graduating June, 1890; professor of military science and 
tactics, September, 1896-99. In succession he was 2nd lieutenant, 1st lieu- 
tenant, captain, major, colonel and assistant chief of the Philippines 
Constabulary, commanding southern Luzon; brigadier-general and chief 
P. Constabulary; August 13, 1907, commander in chief of the Veteran 
Army of the Phihppines; in 1909 chief of staff of the United Spanish War 
Veterans in the United States; served in numerous campaigns in the Philip- 
pines and Cuba. 

Child: Cleveland Hill. Address: Manila, P. I. or U. S. Army. 




HARRY WILL BANDHOLTZ. 



George Alfred Waterman, B. S., M. D. C, was the son of John B. 
Waterman, of England, and Eleanor (Pomeroy) Waterman, of Northampton, 
Massachusetts. He was born December 15, 1867, at Salem, Michigan; 
married Marilla H. Murray, of Salem, Michigan, on June 30, 1874. 

He graduated from M. A. C. in 1891, with degree of Bachelor of Science; 
from the Chicago Veterinary College, 1893, with the degree of Doctor of 
Comparative Medicine. 

In 1912 he reports his religion and politics as both in the air. In 1892 
he reports as farming; 1893-97, professor of veterinary science at M. A. C; 
from 1907-13 to date, farming southeast of Ann Arbor. Although a very 
successful teacher, he seemed to dislike the work and set his heart on 
retiring to a farm. Without any deceit whatever, the Board and Faculty 
were sorry to have him leave. 

He was a very useful man and undertook at times to look after Mih- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 441 




GEORGE ALFRED WATERMAN. 




MAUDE RYLAND KELLER. 



442 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



tary Drill; very helpful to students in their work in Y. M. C. A. 
none. Address: Ann Arbor, Michigan. 



Children : 



Maude Ryland Keller, A. M., was born at SeHnsgrove, Pennsylvania, 
where her father William S. was born. Her mother's maiden name was 
Martha Jane Ryland; Maude Ryland graduated at Wellesley College in 
1892 with the degree of A. B.; in 1896 with the degree of A. M.; student at 
Columbia University, 1901-1902; teacher of EngUsh literature in Bradford 
Academy; dean of the women's division at Michigan Agricultural College 
1898-1901; teacher of English literature in Mount Vernon Seminary, Wash- 
ington, D. C; teacher of English hterature in Miss Wheeler's School, pro- 




HERBERT WINDSOR MUMFORD. 



vidence, Rhode Island; assistant principal and teacher of English literature 
in Westover, Middlebury, Connecticut. 
Home address: Wellesley, Massachusetts. 

Herbert Windsor Mumford, B. S., born at Moscow, Michigan, February 
26, 1871, son of E. C. L. Mumford and Julia A. (Camburn) Mumford: grad- 
uated from Hanover (Michigan) high school, June, 1887; student at Albion 
College, two j^ears; graduated from M. A. C, with degree of B. S., 1891. 
Investigated live stock conditions in Great Britain, France, Belgium and 
Holland, 1897; Argentine Republic, 1908; married at Lansing, Michigan, 
July 5, 1909, Lena Crosby. He was instructor at M. A. C. and assistant 
agriculturist of the Experiment Station, 1895-96; assistant professor of 
agriculture and animal husbandry, and Investigator, 1896-99; Professor 
of Agriculture, 1899-01; secretary of the Farm Home Reading Circle, 1895-99; 
professor of animal husbandry and chief in animal husbandry agricultural 
Experiment Station, University of Illinois, since 1901. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OP TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 443 

Author and Publisher: Beef Production; joint author, Practical Farming 
and Gardening and numerous Ijulletins of Michigan and Illinois Experiment 
Stations; Fattening Lambs; Production and Marketing of Wool. Market 
Cylasses and Grades of Cattle. Feeds Supplementary to Corn for Fattening 
Steers; Fattening Steers of the Various Market Grades; Comparison of 
Methods of Preparing Corn and Clover Hay for Fattening Steers; Main- 
tenance Rations for Beef Breeding Cows; The Short Feeding of Cattle; 
Live Stock Situation in Illinois. Contributor to CyclopecUa Americana and 
Cyclopedia of American Agriculture and to various agricultural journals. 

He is an expert in breeding, feeding and judging live stock; was chairman of 
Cattle Jurors at St. Louis World's Fair. Member of Alpha Zeta and Sigma Xi 




CHARLES ALEXANDER VERNOU. 

fraternities; American Breeders' Association; Society for the Promotion of 
Agricultural Science; American Society of Animal Nutrition; American Eco- 
nomic Association; National Geographic Society; Illinois Academy of Science; 
American Farm Management Association; American Short-horn Breeders' 
Association; American and National Shropshire Breeders' Associations; 
American and National Duroc-Jersey Breeders' Association; American 
Colhe Breeders' Association; Universitj^ of Illinois Senate; Champaign 
County Country Club; University Club; Methodist; Republican. 

Children: Dwight Curtis, Mary Caroline, James Satterlee, Herbert Wind- 
sor, Virginia. Address: Urbana. Illinois. 

Charles Alexander Vernou, U. S. A. Major in the United States 
army, was chosen professor of military science and tactics, September 25, 
1900, and retired, 1903. Little of his family history has been secured, 
A son graduated at West Point; he was twice married; living with his 



444 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



second wife, in Lansing, while professor at the College, He became 2nd 
lieutenant in a cavalry regiment, April 2, 1862; mustered out as captain, 
August, 1865; served during the civil war, in the cavalry corps of the 
Potomac; on March 7, 1867, he entered the fourth U. S. Regiment as 2nd 
lieutenant; on January, 1868, he became 1st lieutenant; in June, 1873, 
he was transferred to the 19th U. S. Infantry and became captain in De- 
cember, 1886; in March, 1899, he was promoted to major of the 17th Infantry 
and in June of that year, after over thirty years of service, was retired at 
his own request. Up to 1890 he served in the plains west of the Mississippi 
River; in the war with Spain he served at Mobile, Chickamauga, and in 
Porto Rico. Physically he was rather large; he was popular and efficient. 




MAUDE GILCHRIST. 



Maude Gilchrist, A. M., was the daughter of James Cleland Gilchrist 
of Allegheny, Pennsylvania and Hannah (Cramer) Gilchrist of Hubbard, 
Ohio, born at Cahfornia, Pennsylvania. 

In 1880, she received the degree of B. Pd. from Iowa State Normal School 
(now Teacher's College); 1887, B. S.; 1880-83 she was a student at Wellesley 
College, Massachusetts; 1897-1901, dean at lUinois Women's College, 
Jacksonville, Illinois; 1895, student in Summer Marine Biological Labora- 
tory, Wood's Hole; 1894-95 attended lectures at Harvard University; 1896-97 
student at University of Gottingen; 1907, student at University of Mich- 
igan, with degree of A. M.; 1901-1913 dean of home economics, Michigan 
Agricultural College. Member of Congregational Church. 

Address: Wellesley, Massachusetts. 

She is a remarkable student, a teacher of great ability, was an efficient man- 
ager of women at this college, a most trying position. She resigned to be- 
come professor of botany at Wellesley College. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 445 

Charlks Edward Marshall, Ph. D., son of Lavinas Marshall of Carhsle, 
New York, and Lurena (Crandall) Marshall, of the state of New York, was 
born October 6, 1866, at Port Clinton, Ohio. 

His education was acquired at the State Normal School, Fredonia, New 
York, graduating in the classical course, 1889; principal of Ellicottville 
Union School, New York, for nearly two years; 1891, entered the medical 
work of the University of Michigan, graduating in 1895, Ph. B.; 1902, Ph. D.; 
1898, a student in Jorgensen's Laboratory, Copenhagen; 1903, student at 
Pasteur Institute, Paris, and Berlin; 1903-06, assistant in bacteriology in 
hygienic laboratory. University of Michigan; 1896-1902, assistant in 
Osterlag's Laboratory, bacteriology, Michigan Agricultural College; 1902- 
1912, professor of bacteriology and hygiene; in 1908, vice-scientific director 




CHARLES EDWARD MARSHALL. 

of Michigan Experiment Station; 1906-08, treasurer, later director of 
School District No. 7; 1908, president of board of education. East Lansing, 
Michigan. 

July 7, 1896, he married Maud Ahce Skidmore, Fredonia, New York. 
She is an excellent musician and was for a time teacher of music at Mich- 
igan Agricultural College. Children: Max Skidmore, Don, Maud Alice. 

In 1912, he resigned to engage in similar work at Massachusetts Agri- 
cultural College and to l^ecome dean of the Post Graduate School. 

Address: Amherst, Massachusetts. 

Ulysses Prentiss Hedrick, M. S., Ph. D., son of Benjamin Franklin Hed- 
rick, of Virginia, and Mary (Meyers) Hedrick, of Elkhart, Indiana, was born 
January 15, 1870, at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He married Amy Willis (Plummer) 
of Corvallis, Oregon, June, 1898; graduated at Michigan Agricultural 
College in 1893, with the degree of B. S.; 1895, M. S. 



446 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



He is an Episcopalian and a Democrat. 

From 1893-95, assistant in horticulture, Michigan Agricultural College; 
1895-97, professor of horticulture and botany, Oregon Agricultural College, 
Corvallis, Oregon; 1897-99, professor of horticulture and botany, Utah 
Agricultural College, Logan, Utah; 1899-1902, assistant professor of 
horticulture, Michigan Agricultural College; 1902-05, professor of horti- 
culture, giving great satisfaction, at Michigan Agricultural College; 1905 
to date, horticulturist. New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, 
New York. His position is that of horticulturist, but he gives all his time 
to pomology. Much of his time is given up to the preparation of a series 
of fruit books. He occasionally prepares bulletins such as 275, 278, 298, 
299, 314; member of the Society of Horticultural Science; American Pomo- 
logical Society; Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science. 




ULYSSES PRENTISS HEDRICK. 

He is author of The Grapes of New York; The Plums of New York — 
similar in all respects in the make-up, to the work on grapes. The work on 
grapes, finely illustrated, received from competent botanists and horticultur- 
ists, the highest commendation. The bulletins are of a high grade. 

Children: Catherine Layton, Penelope Rodney, Ulysses Prentiss, Jr. 

Address: Geneva, New York. 



Robert Sidney Shaw, B. S. A., son of Professor Thomas Shaw who was 
born at Niagara, Canada, and Mary Janet (Sidney) Shaw, born at Wood- 
burn, Canada, R. S. S., was born at Woodl^urn, Ontario, Canada, July 24, 
1871. 

In January, 1901, he married May Travis, who was born in New Jersey; 
she graduated at the University of North Dakota, and became a school 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 447 

teacher — a good one. Mr. Shaw graduated from a high school at Giielph, 
Ontario, and from the Ontario Agricultural College at Guelph, in 1893, with 
the degree of B. S. A. He is a Presbyterian, seldom votes a straight ticket 
in politics. After graduation he managed the home farm in Canada from 
1893-1898; then was professor of agriculture in Montana Agricultural 
College until September 1, 1902, when he became professor of agriculture 
in Michigan Agricultural College, a position he still holds (1913). On August 
6, 1908, was added also the title, clean of agriculture; in 1909 was added 
the position of director of the Experiment Station. 

Children: Robert L., Thomas Travis, deceased, and Sarah May. 

Address: East Lansing. 




ROBERT SIDNEY SHAW. 



Chester Leland Brewer, B. S., is the son of Laselle C. Brewer, a farmer of 
New York State, and Nellie M. (Graves) Brewer, of Rutland, Wisconsin. 
He was born in Owosso, Michigan, November 26, 1875. In 1899, November 
13, he married Grace Brownell. In 1897 he graduated from the University 
of Wisconsin with the degree of B. S.; in 1908 attended the Summer School 
of Harvard University. He is a Baptist and usually a Republican. In 
1897-98 he was professor of physical education of Whitewater State Normal; 
1899-1903, professor of physical education, Albion College, Michigan; 
September 1, 1903-10, professor of physical culture and director of athletics, 
Michigan Agricultural College; 1910, prof essor in the University of Missouri. 

Professor Brewer was remarkably successful and popular with the students 
as director of athletics; as professor of physical culture of all the students, 
he was hampered by not having a gymnasium. 

Children; Eleanor M., Frances F. Address: Columbia, Missouri. 



448 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




CHESTER LELAND BREWER, 




JOSEPH ALEXANDER JEFFERY. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 449 

Joseph Alexander Jeffery, B. S. Agr., son of John Jeffery, of Cornwall, 
England, and Mary (Davis) J., of the same place, was born, September 17, 
1859, at Cornwall, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. 

He married Lucy A. Smith, June 30, 1887, at Plattsville, Wisconsin, who 
died January 14, 1911. He is a Methodist Episcopal and in politics usually 
a Republican. He attended the State Normal School, at Plattsville, Wis- 
consin, in 1886; graduated at the University of Wisconsin in 1896, with the 
degree of A. B., taking some graduate work later. He was principal of the 
high school at Cadett, Wisconsin, 1886-88 inclusive; principal of the high 
school at Shell Lake, Wisconsin, 1887-92; assistant professor of agriculture 
at the Agricultural College, North Dakota, 1896-97; assistant professor of 
soil physics, at the University of Wisconsin, 1897-99; assistant professor 
of agriculture and professor of agronomy, and later full professor of soils 




ERNEST EVERETT BOGUE. 

and soil physics at Michigan Agricultural College, 1899, until September, 
1913. He has for several years been superintendent of a large Sunday 
School. In 1913, he resigned to accept a position in a railway company 
in Northern Michigan where he is to study farming and teach farmers along 
the line. 

Children: Alice E., Raymond L. 

Ernest Everett Bogue, M. S., A. M., was born January 12, 1864, in 
East Orwell, Ohio. He was of French Huguenot stock on his father's side. 
There were nine children in the family, six of whom, with the mother, are 
still living. Mr. Bogue's early ambition was to gain a higher education 
and to this end he constantly worked, earning most of the money with which 
to defray his expenses at school and college. He taught one term of district 
school; spent three years at New Lyme Institute, Ohio, where he graduated 
in 1888, with the degree of B. S.; in the fall of 1889 he entered Ohio State 
University, from which he graduated in 1894, with the degree of Bachelor 
of Science in Horticulture and Forestry, and in June, 1896, he received 
57 



450 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

from the same University the degree of Master of Science in Entomology 
and Botany. 

He loved trees, plants and music, and the home surroundings, associations 
and education in the University all tended in the same direction. 

He married on March 25, 1896, Miss Myra Viola Wilcox, of Columbus, 
Ohio, and went immediately to Oklahoma as head of the department of 
botany and entomology at the State Agricultural College, resigning in 
July, 1901, after teaching four years, to take post graduate work at Harvard 
University, from which institution he received the degree of Master of Arts 
in June, 1902. From September of that year to August 19, 1907, he occupied 
the new chair of forestry in Michigan Agricultural College, where his skill, 
originality, ingenuity and genial wavs soon attracted a large class of students. 
He took great interest in the subject of forestry throughout the state, 
visiting many of the leading farmers to encourage and help them in plans for 
the correct management of their wood lots, and in starting original planta- 
tions. A map of the state hung in his office, well dotted with red spots 
showing the localities of these early efforts by farmers of Michigan. 

He started a forest nursery, a part of the plan of which was to furnish 
young trees at cost for the farmers to plant. For the beautiful home erected, 
he selected a congenial spot near the papaw bushes, sloping to the bank of the 
Red Cedar, where the dam beloAv made a delightful place for rowing for over 
a mile in extent. Pitcher plants, orchids and numerous wild plants of 
his selection occupied suitable spots between the house and the river. With 
excellent judgment, he selected a nice variety of trees to plant about 
his new home, among them a fine grove of Norway spruces, with the view 
of furnishing Christmas trees to the neighborhood when they should attain 
suitable size. The chief charm of the location, as he rightly viewed it, 
was just across the river on the farm, a virgin forest of maples, beeches, 
basswoods, elms and others delighting in such surroundings. He was sec- 
retary of the State Academy' of Science, 1906-07. 

He was a man of deep religious convictions; but his creed was formulated 
in acts of Christian living rather than in words of belief. He was long the 
superintendent of the Sunday School near the College. 

After a protracted illness, he died, August 19, 1907, as we might say, in 
the midst of a promising career of usefulness, as a man, a citizen and a Teacher. 

There were no children. 

William S. Holdsworth, M. S., was the son of William S. Holdsworth, 
a cabinet maker and bookkeeper, and Mary (Saunders) Holdsworth. He 
was born in London, England, February 28, 1856. He married Miss Adel- 
ade Smith, a school teacher from Massachusetts. At an early age he 
came with his parents to the shores of Grand Traverse Bay, Michigan. 
His fondness for this beautiful, invigc rating region never waned; here he 
built his summer home and while resting, he gratified his artistic taste with 
brush and palette. 

He was graduated from the College with the class of '78, supplementing 
his work with a course in art at Boston, Massachusetts. In 1881 he began 
teaching at M. A. C; from 1883 to 1887 he was designer and draftsman for 
Bond & Chandler, Chicago, Illinois. From there he returned to this College 
to take charge of the department of drawing, first as instructor, then as 
assistant and then as full professor from 1904 to September, 1907. 

For portions of several years he tried the climate of California, Florida 
and other places, with the view of regaining his health. He prepared the 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



451 



excellent oil portrait of the late Franklin Wells, now in the College Library; 
the fine water-color painting of the house so long occupied by Dr. Beal, and 
painted many other choice sketches. 

He died of tuberculosis September 18, 1907, at his home just north of the 
College Campus. 

Professor V. T. Wilson, in his report for 1909, writes: 

"There has been an element of sadness to me in the discharge of my duties 
this year, in the thought that I was called to carry on his work. I saw at 
once that I was taking up the work of a master hand and I cannot refrain 
here from expressing my appreciation of him as a teacher and organizer. 
If I can succeed in carrying out his plans as he would have done I feel that 
I shall be doing the best work for the College. The esprit de corps of the 





WILLIAM S. HOLDSWORTH. 



WILLIAM HUDSON KELL. 



staff of instruction has been all that could be desired and also bears testi- 
mony to his efficiency." 

Children: Robert, '11, Harry William, Richard. 



William Hudson Kell, U. S. A., son of Colonel John Kell of Steuben- 
ville, Ohio and Maria (McCulluck) Kell of the same place, was born April 19, 
1841, at Steubenville, Ohio. He was lieutenant colonel, U. S. Army; 
professor of military science and tactics, 1904-1905. 

He married Emma St. L. Sise of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He 
was educated at Harris Academy, Ohio; member of the Episcopal Church; 
served in the Army from 1861 to date (1911). 

Children: None. Address: Post Office, Washington, D. C. 



452 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



Arthur Rodney Sawyer, A. B., E. E,, is the son of David H. Sawyer, 
of Antrim, New Hampshire, and Ann (Wood) Sawyer. He was born August 
26, 1868, at Bunl^er Hill, Illinois. On September 16, 1905, he married Cora 
Hill, of Bunker Hill, Illinois. 

Mr. Sawyer was educated in a manual training school, St. Louis, Mi- 
souri; Washington University, St. Louis, through the junior year; attended 
Leland Stanford, Jr. University, receiving B. S. in 1893; attended the 
University of Wisconsin, receiving the degree of E. E. in 1896. 

He is a Progressive Republican and a Congregationahst. 

He was a teacher in the high school; draftsman with an electric company; 
with the Cutler Hammer Manufacturing Company, all three in Milwaukee; 
assistant professor of electrical engineering in the State College, Lexington, 




ARTHUR RODNEY SAWYER. 



Kentucky; in 1904 to date he has been professor of physics and electrical 
engineering in Michigan Agricultural College. 

Child: Margaret Jessie. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

Frederick William Fuger, U. S. A., was the son of Frederick Fuger, 
of Germany and Margaret T. Fuger, of Glascow, Scotland. He was born 
at Fort Slocum. New York, February 21, 1868. He married Marie N. Hall, 
of Detroit, Michigan. 

He was educated in the high school of Newport, Rhode Island, and in the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, graduating in 1891, with the degree 
of B. S. He is a Roman Catholic and has no politics. 

August 1, 1891, he became 2nd lieutenant, 13th Infantry; 1898, 1st 
lieutenant; 1901, captain. Has served in Oklahoma, Kansas, New York, 
Cuba, Philippine Islands, California, Michigan and Texas; professor of 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 453 

military science and tactics in Michigan Agricultural College, 1905-09. 
He was a man much respected and efficient while at M. A. C. 
Children: Theoden H., Frederick W., Pierse G. 
Address (1912): U. S. Army, Captain 13th Infantry, Manila, P. I. 

Stevenson Whitcomb Fletcher, M. S., Ph. D., was born at Littleton, 
Massachusetts, September 10, 1875; his father, Charles K. Fletcher was 
born at Littleton, Massachusetts; his mother, Anna (Holton) Fletcher was 
born at West Acton, Massachusetts; his wife, Margaret Rolston was born 
at Rome, Georgia; married June 27, 1905. 

He attended the public schools of Worcester, and Littleton, Massachusetts; 
graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College in 1896, with degree B. 
S.; Ph. D. degree from Cornell University, 1900. Congregationalist; Inde- 
pendent Democrat. 

Assistant horticulturist at Massachusetts Agricultural College, 1896 to 
1897; fellow in horticulture, Cornell University, 1897 to 1898; assistant in 
horticulture, Cornell, 1898 to 1900; professor of horticulture and horticul- 
turist of the Experiment Station, Washington State College, 1900 to 1902. 
Similar position at West Virginia University, 1902 to 1903. Assistant 
professor of extension teaching in agriculture, Cornell University, 1903 
to 1905; professor of horticulture at Michigan Agricultural College, 1905 
to 1908; director of Virginia Agricultural Experiment StaMon, 1908. Mem- 
ber of the American Pomological Society; Society for Horticultural Science; 
Phi Kappa Phi (Massachusetts Agricultural College). 

Author: How to Make a Fruit Garden, 1906; Soils— How to Handle and 
Improve Them, 1907. 

Children: Robert, Richard, Stevenson, Jr. Address: Blacksburg, Vir- 
ginia. 

(The above is chiefly copied from "Who's Who in America.") 

Thomas Charles Blaisdell, Ph. D., is the son of (Rev.) J. W. Blaisclell, 
of New Hampshire, and Harriet I. (Morse) Blaisdell, of Angelica, New York. 

He was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1867. He married 
Kate Christy, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1893. 

He was educated at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania; Syracuse 
University, New York, with the degree of A. B., in 1888; A. M., in 1891; 
1896-97, student in the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska; 1904, 
Ph. D. from the University of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Congregationalist; 
Independent Republican. He taught at Charlotte, North Carolina; Litch- 
field, Connecticut; Allegheny, Pennsylvania; Lincoln, Nebraska; taught 
nine years in the normal school, at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; 1906, Septem- 
ber 1, 1912, or later, professor of English literature and modern lan- 
guages, Michigan Agricultural College. 

He is co-author of Steps in Enghsh, books 1 and 2; Author of Steps in 
English; Composition-Rhetoric; and English in the Grades, all published by 
the American Book Company. 

The following are extracts from letters received at the College : 

"He is young, vigorous, scholarly, enthusiastic, winning in personality, 
successful in experience — he is the man for you, and I congratulate you 
if you secure him." 

The president of Allegheny College states: "I know him and I know his 
work. Do not see how you could select a better man for the place." 



454 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




STEVENSON WHITCOMB FLETCHER. 





FREDERICK WILLIAM FUGER. 



THOMAS CHARLES BLAISDELL. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 455 

Professor S. D. Fess, of Chicago, says: "I can, without reservation, 
commend him to your favorable consideration. Aside from his wide repu- 
tation as an author, his professional standing as a teacher, both from the 
standpoint of the class room and the rostrum where I have seen him at 
work, he is a most affable gentleman whose influence is wholesome. In 
short, I have observed no faults to him, and frankly confess he is the kind 
of a man one is pleased to recommend to his friends. My own opinion 
is that you cannot secure him. In case you can do so you will make no 
mistake." 

There were others of the same trend. He has fulfilled the promises given 
in his recommendations. 

For many years he has been a very successful lecturer at teachers' insti- 
tutes in five or more different States. 




WILLIAM OLIN HEDRICK. 

He tells a story well; always looks on the bright side. In 1912 resigned 
to become president of Alma College. 

Children: Mary, Thomas C, Jr., Donald Christy, William Morse. 
Address: Alma, Michigan, 1915. 

William Olin Hedrick, M. S., Ph. D., son of Benjamin Hedrick, of 
Charlottesville, Virginia, and Mary (Meyers) Hedrick, of Elkhart, Indiana, 
was born April 3, 1868, at Elkhart, Indiana. 

He graduated at high school, Harbor Springs, Michigan; graduate of 
Michigan Agricultural College, 1891, with the degree of B. S.; 1896, Uni- 
versity of Michigan, M. S.; 1909, Ph. D. 

He is a Democrat and a Congregationalist. 

From August, 1891 to September, 1893, Instructor in English, Michigan 
Agricultural College; September, 1893, assistant professor of history and 



456 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

political economy; June, 1906, professor of history and economics. His 
doctorial thesis, the "History of Railroad Taxation in Michigan" was pub- 
lished in 1912 in a volume of 70 pages by the Michigan State Library. 

He takes much interest in the schools of East Lansing and for some years 
has been a member of the School Board. During the year 1897 he spent 
six months in Europe, studying at Gottingen, Germany, and travelling 
through England, France and the Low Countries. 

On August 3, 1898, he married Lu B. Baker, daughter of Lieutenant 
Luther Byron Baker and Helen Davis Baker, Lansing, Michigan. 

Children: Benjamin Prentice (deceased), Helen, Hester, Amy, Marion. 

Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

RuFUS Hiram Pettit, B. S. in Agr., was born, January 11, 1869, at Bald- 
winsville, New York. He was the son of Captain Rufus D. Pettit and 
Elvira (McHuron) Pettit; May, 1895, married Jessie A. Treat, of Elmira, 
New York. In 1895 graduated at Cornell LIniversity, with the degree of 
B. S. Agr. In 1891 he went to Rochester, New York, to accept a position 
in the osteological and anatomical departments of Ward's Natural Science 
Establishment. While there he made a specialty of entomology and soon 
after graduating, 1895, he went to Minnesota as assistant state entomolo- 
gist. In September, 1906, he became professor of entomology at the Michi- 
gan Agricultural College. During one summer (1892) he was an instructor 
in entomology at Arey's Natural Science Camp at Canandaigua, New 
York. While in Cornell he prepared a Bulletin (No. 97) on Entomogeneous 
Fungi or Insect Diseases which was published by the institution. 

Children: Jessie A., Dorathy C. 

Professor Pettit is an excellent photographer, apt at drawing and has 
produced a number of excellent bulletins on economic entomology. He 
is a popular and genial Teacher with hosts of friends. 

George Welton Bissell, M. E., is the son of George Edwin Bissell, of 
New Preston, Connecticut, and Mary Elizabeth (Welton) Bissell, of Water- 
bury, Connecticut. He was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, July 14, 1866; 
married Fannie Hubbard Speed, of Ithaca, New York, June 25, 1889. 

Educated in public schools of Poughkeepsie. Instructor in experimental 
engineering, Sibley College, Cornell University, 1888 to 1891. Assistant 
professor of mechanical engineering, Iowa State College 1891-92. Sons of 
the American Revolution. 

He is an Episcopalian and a Republican. 

Professor of mechanical engineering and dean of engineering, Michigan 
Agricultural College, since 1907. Fellow of A. A. A. S. (sec. sect. D.); 
member of Sigma Xi ; member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers ; 
member of Society for the Promotion of Engineering Education; American 
Society Testing Materials; member of the Michigan Engineering Society; 
member of the Detroit Engineering Society. 

Children: none. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

James Fred Baker, B. S., M. F., son of Major Joseph Stannard Baker 
and Alice (Potter) Baker, of St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, was born at St. 
Croix Falls, Wisconsin, April 23, 1880. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 457 




JAMES FRED BAKER. 





ftUFUS HIRAM PETTIT 



GEORGE WELTON BISSELI,, 



458 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

He graduated with the degree of B. S. from the Michigan Agricultural 
College in 1902; from the School of Forestry of Yale University, with the 
degree of Master of Forestry, in 1905. 

He married Bessie Irene Buskirk, daughter of Hon. H. F. Buskirk, '78, 
at Wayland, Michigan, April 20, 1907. She graduated from Michigan 
Agricultural College, with the degree of B. S., in 1903. 

After graduation in 1902, he entered the forest service of the United 
States; September, 1905, he was instructor in forestry in Pennsylvania 
State Forest Academy, Mt. Alto, Pennsylvania; September, 1906, assistant 
professor of forestry in Colorado College, Colorado Springs; October 1, 
1907, professor of forestry in Michigan Agricultural College. See notice 
of his management in Michigan, under Forestry. 

In religion he is a Presbyterian; in politics, a progressive Republican. 

Children: Louis Stannard Baker, Elizabeth. 

Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

Leslie M. Hurt, D. V. M., son of James T. Hurt, of Kentucky, and 
Nancy (Adkins) Hurt, of Alabama, was born November 5, 1880, near Grinnell, 
Iowa. He married Effie M. McKim, at Ames, Iowa. He attended the 
common school; high school at Newton, Iowa; collegiate work in the 
State College, Ames, Iowa; four and one-half years in agriculture and vet- 
erinary science at that college, with the degree of D. V. M., in 1904. 

He is a not a member of any church and steers clear of politics. 

In 1904 he served the government as veterinary inspector in the bureau 
of animal industry for four months, in the abattoirs of Kansas City and in 
field work in the Northwestern States, with headcjuarters at Lewiston, 
Idaho; accepted the position of assistant professor of physiology and sani- 
tary science in the veterinary department of the Iowa State College; in 
the fall of 1907 elected veterinarian to the Experiment Station and professor 
of veterinary science in Michigan Agricultural College; February, 1910, 
became connected with the firm of W. B. Otto & Co., of Charlotte, Michigan, 
importers of draft horses; May, 1911, engaged in the practice of veterinary 
science, Lansing, Michigan. Now residing in California. 

Children: One 5 years, and the other 3 years of age, a boy and a girl. 

Harry Joshua Eustace, B. S., son of Joshua Harvey Eustace of 
Rochester, New York, and Bell (Thompson) Eustace, of Lyons, New York, 
was born at Rochester, New York, April 24. 1877; married, October 19, 

1907, to Eugertha E. Lawrence, Geneva, New York. 

He attended the puiilic schools in Rochester, New York; pursued a course 
in Michigan Agricultural College, graduating, with the degree of B. S., in 
1901. 

He is a Baptist and a Republican. July, 1901-September 1, 1906, assist- 
ant botanist of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, 
New York; September 1, ie06-August 15. 1908, experimenting in the storage 
and transportation of fruits for the United States Department of Agriculture; 

1908, August 15, professor of horticulture in Michigan Agricultural College. 
He has made the work in horticulture practical and popular. 

Children: none. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

Victor Tyson Wilson, M. E., was born at Philadelphia, April 11, 1864; 
son of Joseph Wilson and Anna (Tyson) Wilson; graduate of School of 
Industrial Art, Philadelphia, 1885; M. E., Cornell University,- 1902; married 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 459 




LESLIE M. HURT. 





HARRY JOSHUA EUSTACE. 



VICTOR TYSON WILSON. 



460 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

Harriet Pattison, of Ithaca, New York, June 25, 1902. In business, New 
York, 1887-93; teacher, Sibley College, Cornell University, 1893-1903; 
Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, 1903-04; assistant professor of general 
engineering drawing. University of Illinois, 1904-07; professor of engineer- 
ing drawing, Pennsylvania State College, 1907-08; professor of drawing and 
design, Michigan Agricultural College, since September 1, 1908. 

Author: Free-hand Perspective, 1899; Free-hand Lettering, 1902. 

Joint Author: Notes on Practical Mechanical Drawing, 1907; Descrip- 
tive Geometry, 1909. Children: none. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

(The above is copied from ''Who's Who in America.") 

Walter Hiram French, M. Pd., was the son of Harvey H. French 
of Cuba, New York, and Perlie A. (Niles) French of Great Valley, New 
York. He was born January 28, 1862, at Cuba, New York. June 24, 1886, 
married Caddie M. Chaffee, Allegan, Michigan. He took the classical 
and the scientific courses at the State Normal College, receiving the degree of 
M. Pd., and later completed a course in law. He is a Methodist and a 
RcpubUcan. From 1888-1893 he was superintendent of schools, Litch- 
field, Michigan; 1893-1900, county commissioner of schools Hillsdale 
county; 1901-1908, deputy state superintendent of public instruction; 
1908, president of the State Teachers' Association; in 1908, July 1, professor 
of agricultural education, Michigan Agricultural College. He has been 
very successful in ])lanning courses of study in twenty or more counties in 
which there is work in agriculture. 

Children: Horace L. Address: East Lansing or Lansing, Michigan. 

Warren Babcock, B. S., son of Warren Babcock, of Scipio, New York, 
and Cordelia (Twist) Babcock, Scipio, New York, was born at Ypsilanti, 
Michigan, September 15, 1866; married Gertrude Hanson, of Milan, Mich- 
igan, November 16, 1892. 

He graduated in 1890 at Michigan Agricultural College, with the degree of 
B. S.; special student during some vacations, 1893-98, at the University of 
Michigan. In poUtics a Democrat; Mayor of East Lansing, 1908-09. 

Instructor in mathematics, 1891-92; assistant professor of mathematics, 
September, 1893-98; associate professor and secretary of the faculty, 1898- 
1909; professor of mathematics and secretary of the faculty, 1909-1913. 
For a good portion of two years he was ill and unable to perform much work. 
He died June 3, 1913. He was a thorough teacher; genial, even-tempered, 
a man with many friends. 

Child: Gertrude M. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

George Michael Holley, M.S., was born at Lawrenceville, Henry Coun- 
ty, Alabama, April 13, 1876. He was the son of John Green Holley of Frank- 
lin County, Georgia, and Jane (Fonderin) Holley, of Henry County, Alabama. 

He married Leila Dobbins, September 26, 1907, at Fort Gaines, Georgia. 
She was educated in the public school and in Brenan College, Georgia. 
Mr. Holley was educated in the public school and in the Polytechnic In- 
stitute of Auburn, Alabama, graduating with the degree of B. Sc, in 1897; 
M. Sc, in 1898. He has been in the U. S. Army since leaving College, 
entering volunteers, July 25, 1898, as a second class private, 3rd engineers. 
He is (1911) captain of the 11th U. S. Infantry. He was appointed pro- 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 461 




WARREN BABCOCK. 





WALTER HIRAM FRENCH. 



GEORGE MICHAEL HOLLEY. 



462 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

fessor of military science and tactics, September 1, 1909, and served till 
June, 1911. 

Child: George Michael, Jr. Address: War Department, Washington, 
D. C. 

Vernon Morelle Shoesmith, B. S., son of George B. Shoesmith and 
Louisa A. (Cummins) Shoesmith, was born, December 27, 1876, at LesHe, 
Michigan; married Elsie M. Morrison, December 23, 1903, at Milford, 
Michigan. 

In 1895 graduated at high school, LesUe, Michigan; 1901, graduated at 
Michigan Agricultural College, with the degree of B. S. Like many others, 
Mr. Shoesmith and Miss Morrison, later both graduates of the Agricultural 
College, married after an acquaintance as students. Baptist and now 
Congregationalist; in politics Lidependent. 

August, 1901, to January, 1907, assistant in agronomy. State Agricul- 
tural College, Kansas; 1907, January 1, to January 1, 1908, Agronomist, 
Marjdand Agricultural College; 1908, January 1, to February 15, 1910, 
associate professor of agronomy, Ohio State LTniversity; 1910, February 15, 
professor of farm crops and doing work in the Experiment Station, Michigan 
Agricultural College. Author of several bulletins. 

Children: Margaret, Dorothy, Helen. Address: East Lansing, Mich. 

Anson Crosby Anderson, B. S., was the son of Edwin Anderson, of 
Elhngton, New York, and Catherine (Crosby) Anderson, of Ellington, 
New York. He was born, August 19, 1865, at Ellington, New York. 

He married Inez E. Shannon, of Leon, New York, June 28, 1894. She 
was educated at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, Mass- 
achusetts. 

Mr. Anderson was educated at Elhngton High School; Fredonia Normal 
School; took summer courses at Chautauqua and Cornell University and 
Harvard University; graduated at M. A. C, with the degree of B. S., in 1906. 
He is a Congregationalist and a Republican. He was superintendent of 
the schools at Smethport, Pennsylvania, 1890-91; principal of Forestville 
High School, New York, 1891-1904; instructor in animal husbandry, 1906- 
08; assistant professor of dairy husbandry, 1908-10; professor of dairy hus- 
bandry, 19 10-. He is industrious, public spirited and efficient. 

Children: Edgar S., Richard J. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

Richard Pope Lyman, B. S., M. D. V., the son of Charles P. Lyman of 
Boston and Lucy Elery (Pope) Lyman, Somerville, Mass., was born at Con- 
cord, Massachusetts, August 5, 1872; married, February 16, 1898, Annie 
Downing Evans of Hartford, Connecticut. He attended the Boston Latin 
School, not graduating; graduated, in 1892, at the Massachusetts Agricultural 
College, receiving the degree of B. S.; in 1894, graduated, with the degree of 
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, at Harvard University; in 1894, demonstra- 
tor in histology in the Harvard Medical School; became veterinary field agent 
for the Massachusetts Cattle Commission, serving, 1894 to July, 1895: 1895- 
1908 in general practice, Hartford, Connecticut, serving the state as veterin- 
ary advisor and Hartford County Milk Commission during the greater por- 
tion of that period; lecturer on infectious diseases of animals at the Kan- 
sas City Veterinary College, Kansas City, Mo., in the winters of 1907-08, 
1908-09 and 1909-10, serving the college during the last year as professor 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 463 




VERNON MORELLE SHOESMITH. 





ANSON CROSBY ANDERSON. 



RICHARD POPE LYMAN. 



464 



HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



of clinical medicine and obstetrics. During his professional career, Dr. Lyman 
has served as president of the Connecticut State Board of Veterinary Regis- 
tration; secretary and later president of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical 
Association; chairman for six years of the committee on publication of the 
American Veterinary Medical Association; five years as secretary and twice 
elected vice-president of the above association; he was one of five of a com- 
mittee appointed by Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson to investigate 
veterinary education in the Colleges of America, serving the commission 
as its chairman 1908-1909; collaborating editor American Veterinary Re- 
view since 1907; active member of the American Veterinary Medical Asso- 
ciation, National Geographic Society, Sons American Revolution, Michigan 
State Veterinary Medical Association and has honorary membership in sev- 




ERNST ATHEARN BESSEY. 



eral veterinary organizations. In 1910 he was appointed dean of the divis- 
ion of veterinary science at the Michigan Agricultural College. 

An Episcopalian and independent in pohtics. Children: Bertha D., Rich- 
ard P. Address: East Lansing, Michigan. 

Ernst Athearn Bessey, Ph. D., is the son of Charles E. Bessey '69, 
Michigan Agricultural College, of Milton, Ohio, and Lucy (Athearn) Bessey, 
West Tisbury, Massachusetts. He was born at Ames, Iowa, February 20, 
1877; married Edith Carleton Higgins, Omaha, Nebraska. In 1896 he 
graduated from the University of Nebraska, with the degree of B. A.; 1897, 
B. Sc; 1898, M. A.; 1904, Ph. D., University of Halle, Germany. He is a 
Congregationahst and a Progressive. He was assistant pathologist of 
the division of vegetable physiology and pathology, U. S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1899-1901; in charge of the office of seed and plant introduc- 
tion, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1901-02; agricultural explorer for 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 465 

the same office in Russia, Caucasus and Turkestan, in the summer of 1902; 
in Russia and Caucasus, summer of 1903 and in Algeria during the spring 
of 1904; pathologist of the bureau of plant industry, U. S. Department 
of Agriculture, 1904-08, being stationed at Washington until December, 
1905, and thereafter in charge of the Sub-tropical Laboratory and Gardens 
at Miami, Florida; professor of botany and bacteriology, Louisiana State 
University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 1908-10; professor of botany, Mich- 
igan Agricultural College, September, 1910-. 

Children: Bertha Agnes, William Higgins. Address: East Lansing, 
Michigan. 

Agnes Hunt, B. S., was born on a farm near the village of Ridott, Steph- 
enson County, Illinois. She is the daughter of William Hunt of the same 
place and Jennie Adelaide (Burdick) Hunt. She was educated in the 
district school; business college at Freeport, Illinois, 1899-1900; graduated 
from the University of Illinois in 1908 with the degree B. S. She taught 
two years in the College of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands; appointed 
professor of domestic science at M. A. C, September 1, 1910, and resigned 
July 1, 1915. 

John Farrell Macklin is the son of Robert Macklin of Ireland and 
Margaret (Wrey) of the same country. He was educated at the Worcester 
High School, Massachusetts, Exeter Academy of New Hampshire, St. Paul's 
School of Garden City, Long Island, and the University of Pennsylvania. 
He was director of athletics at Pawling, New York. He was employed in 
the engineering department of the American Steel and Wire Company, Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts. Professor of physical culture and director of athletics 
at M. A. C. beginning January, 1911. 

Anton C^sar Cron was the son of Frederick W. Cron of Mayfield, 
Wisconsin, and Emma (Utech) C. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was born 
October 31, 1878, at Milwaukee; married Nina Rosamond Nash of Spo- 
kane, Washington, on January 20, 1906. He was educated in the grammar 
school and high school at Manistee, Michigan; Bethel Military Academy, 
Fauquier County, Virginia, 1897-98; U. S. Military Academy, 1899 to 
1901. He is a Unitarian and a republican. He is a lieutenant in the 
United States Army; assigned as commandant at the College, September, 
1911, and retired June, 1913. 

Children: Three boys. 

William Walter Johnston, A. M, was born on a farm in Neosho County, 
Kansas, January 5, 1876. His father's name is Matthew Johnston of 
Evansville, Indiana; his mother's name was Jennie May Lodge born in 
New Aiban}^, Indiana. He married Ethelyn Genevieve Thorne who was 
born in Waterville, Kansas. 

When eight years old, his father moved to Erie, Kansas. After training 
in the common school, he attended Baker University, taking the degree of 
A. B. in 1902; graduate work at Harvard, graduating in 1905 with the de- 
gree of A. M. He is a Methodist Episcopal and independent in politics. 

He went to Pullman, Washington in 1905 where he taught English for two 
years in the State College; in the spring of 1908 he was elected professor 
of English in the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Oklahoma at 
59 



466 



HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




AGNES HUNT. 





JOHN FARRELL MACKLIN. 



ANTON CAESAR CRON. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 467 

Stillwater, remaining for two years as Dean of the Division of Science and 
Literature; since September, 1912, he has served as professor of English at 
this college, East Lansing. Residence: East Lansing, Michigan. 
Children: Manfred, Henry, Ellen. 

John B. DeLancy, B. S., was born April 20, 1876 in Perry county, Penn- 
sylvania. He was the son of William P. and Susan A. (Wolf) of the same 
place. He married Mary Louise Corrithers, August 2, 1907. 

He graduated from Grove College in Grove City, Pennsylvania with 
the degree of B. S., June 15th, 1903. He is a Protestan: and a Repubhcan. 
He has been an Army officer since October 5, 1904, stationed at Spokane, 
Alaska, Texas, Indianapolis, the Canal Zone, Panama. Professor of military 
science and tactics, M. A. C. since July, 1913. 

Children: Mary Louise, John B., Helen Elizabeth. Residence: East 
Lansing, Michigan. 




WILLIAM WALTER JOHNSTON. 

Louis Clark Plant, Ph. B., M. S., son of Henry E. Plant of Nunica, 
Michigan and Jennie S. (Clark) Plant, was born at Nunica November 24, 

1870 

He married at Michigan Agricultural College, December 20, 1900 Ella 
Pearl Kedzie, '98. He graduated with the degree of Ph. B. from the Uni- 
versity of Michigan, 1897; graduated with the degree of M. S., from the 
University of Chicago, 1904. 

He taught in the public schools of Ottawa and Allegan counties for four 
years previous to 1893; instructor in mathematics in Bradley Polytechnic 
Institute, Peoria, Illinois; professor of mathematics, University of Montana 
for six years, closing September, 1913. 

Appointed professor of mathematics, M. A. C, September, 1913, and still 
serving. 

Children: Margaret Louise, Robert Kedzie. Address: East Lansing. 



468 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 




JOHN B. DeLANCY. 




LOUIS CLARK PLANT. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 



469 



Georgia Laura White, Ph. D., was the daughter of George Leonard White 
of Cadiz, New York and Laura Amelia (Cravath) White of Homer, New York. 
She was born at Nashville, Michigan, but at the age of two years went to 
St. Charles, Minnesota, where her early life was spent. She attended the 
Normal School at Fredonia, N. Y.; graduated from Lake Erie Seminary, 
1894; from Cornell University, 1896; pursued graduate work in pohtical 
science, sociology and European history at Cornell, 1898-99; at Halle, 
Germany, 1899-1900; fellow at Cornell in PoUtical science, receiving Ph. D. 
in 1901 ; teacher of history and English in high school at New Castle, Indiana, 
1896-98; head teacher in Walnut Lane School, Germantown, Pa; instructor 
in sociology, Smith College, Mass., 1903-1905; associate professor, 1905-1911; 
dean of women, Olivet College, Michigan. President Lancaster said, "No 




GEORGIA LAURA WHITE. 



one has come to Olivet since I have known the college, whose coming has 
promised so much good as does that of Dr. White." 

Dean of home economics, Michigan Agricultural College, September, 1913, 
with leave of absence until the spring term, 1914. Address: East Lansing. 



Edward Hildreth Ryder, A. M., son of Joseph Ryder of the state of New 
York and Sarah (Thayer) Ryder of Plymouth, Michigan, was born in North- 
ville, Michigan, August 9, 1873. He married Georgia A. Smyth of Mar- 
shall, Michigan; she graduated from the high school of Union City and the 
State Normal College. Mr. Ryder graduated from the State Normal College 
in 1893, from the University of Michigan in 1903 with the degree of A. B.; 
from the same University in 1904 with the degree of A. M. He is an active 
member of the Congregational Church and by preference a Republican. 
He was instructor in the high school, at Traverse City, 1893-97; superin- 



470 HISTORY OF MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 





EDWARD HILDRETH RYDER. 



CHARLES PARKER HALLIGAN. 





JOSEPH ALBERT POLSON. 



ARTHUR JOHN CLARK. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 471 

tendent of schools at Plymouth, 1897-99; principal of the high school at 
Traverse City, 1899-1902; assistant in economics in the University of Mich- 
igan, 1903-04; assistant in American history in the University, 1904-5; 
instructor, assistant professor and associate professor successively at this 
College, 1905-1915. In 1913, Mr. Ryder was made secretary of the Faculty, 
succeeding in this capacity. Prof. Warren Babcock, and in 1915 dean of the 
Summer School, Michigan Agricultural College. 
Children: One daughter, Ruth Anna. 

Charles Parker Halligan, B. S., son of John Halligan and Margaret 
(McCarthy) Halligan of Boston, Massachusetts, was born July 4, 1881. He 
married Lillian Irene Proulx, September 4, 1907. She was the daughter 
of M. J. and Mary J. (Hamell) Proulx of Hatfield, Mass. Mr. Halligan 
graduated from the EngHsh High School of Boston, 1899; from Massachu- 
» setts Agricultural College, 1903. He taught horticulture for two years at 
the National Farm School, Penn.; instructor in landscape gardening in 
Massachusetts Agricultural College; instructor in horticulture, Michigan 
Agricultural College, April, 1907; assistant professor in horticulture, Mich- 
igan Agricultural College. 1908; associate professor in horticulture, 1913. 

Children: None. Address: East Lansing. 

Joseph Albert Polson, M. E., Associate Professor of Mechanical En- 
gineering, May, 1913. He was born in Central Iowa, March 20, 1877; 
married Bessie C. Lee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, December 19, 1906; gradu- 
ated from Purdue University, Indiana in June, 1905 with the degree of 
B. S.; from the same University in 1911 with the degree of Mechanical 
Engineer. 

He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers; Ameri- 
can Society for Testing Materials; National Tire Protection Association. 
He was elected instructor September, 1906; assistant professor in May, 1908; 
associate professor, 1913. 

Arthur John Clark, B. A. Son of Robert W. Clark, London, Eng- 
land, and Corretta (Tovvnsend) Clark, Wayne, Michigan. Mr. Clark was 
born November 23, 1880, at Chicago, 111. married Miss M. Elva Crawford, 
of Barron, Wisconsin, June 24, 1908. Attended public schools and high 
school at Janesville, Wisconsin. After leaving high school worked a year and 
a half clerking in drug store ard for a year and a half as assistant secretary 
of the Y. M. C. A. at Janesville. Entered University of Wisconsin in fall of 
1901, specialized in study of chemistry and graduated June, 1905. Science 
teacher in high school at EvansvlUe, Wis., 1905-1906. Entered the chemical 
department of M. A. C. as instructor in the fall of 1906; assistant professor 
of chemistry, 1909-1914; associate professor of chemistry, 1914. Graduate 
study at University of Wisconsin summer sessions, 1911, 1912, 1913; entered 
the University of Chicago for graduate work, 1915, summer session. 

Member A, X. Z. fraternity; member American Chemical Society, etc. 

Residence: East Lansing, Michigan. 



472 HISTORY OP MICHIGAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 



LIBRARIANS. 

There are no records available giving the names of persons who served as librarians previous to 
1872. 

Professor George T. Fairchild served 1872-79. Professor Elias J. MacEwan served 1880-83. 

Mrs. Mary J. C. Merrill (Mrs. Louis G. Carpenter), B. S., M. S. 
Left a widow, entered M. A. C. as a student from the home farm, graduat- 
ing with the class of 1881, being the second woman graduate in College 
history. After completing a five-j^ear term as college librarian she was mar- 
ried to Prof. Louis G. Carpenter of the department of Mathematics, Colo- 
rado Agricultural College. Their residence is now Denver, Colorado. 

Miss Mary Mouat Abbot, (Mrs. C. M. Moore), eldest child and only 
daughter of President T. C. Abbot, was born on the M. A. C. campus 
January 7, 1863, where she spent the most of her life until her marriage to 
Cleves M. Moore oi Cincinnati, Ohio. Shortly after the death of President 
Abbot in 1891, Mrs. Moore with her mother and family removed to San 
Gabriel, California. Here she became associated with the work of a ladies' 
library club and for some time acted as their librarian and secretary. Mrs. 
Moore died March 20, 1903, at Los Angeles, from the effects of anesthetics 
administered for a slight surgical operation. 

Miss Jane Skellie Sinclair, (Mrs. Jacob I. Deal). She was the 
daughter of Daniel H. Sinclair of New York State, and Jane (Proudfit) Sin- 
clair of the same state. Served as librarian from August 1889 to August, 
1891. She married Jacob I. Deal, December 31, 1891 and resided in Jones- 
ville, Michigan. She died April 19, 1898 at Jonesville. 

Mrs. Linda Eoline (Vought) Landon was the daughter of Justus Thorn 
Vought, born in Peekskill, New York, and Jane Carr Vought, both of whom 
later moved to Niles, Michigan. She married Rufus W. Landon of Niles, Mich- 
igan, 1877. He died in 1886. She served some time as teacher in the pub'ic 
schools of Kalamazoo, Michigan. She began a long and valuable service as 
librarian of Michigan Agricultural College in 1891. There are two sons, 
Rufus and Lee. 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF TRUSTEES AND FACULTY. 473 





MRS. MARY J. C. MERRILL. 
MISS MARY MOUAT ABBOT. (Mrs. C. M. Moore.) 





MISS JANE SKELLIE SINCLAIR (Mrs. Jacob I. DeaL) 
MRS. LINDA EOLINE LANDON. 



APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX A. 

ESTABLISHING A STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 

AN ACT for the establishment of a State Agricultural School. (3) See 
Session Laws of 1855, Act No. 130, approved February 12th, 1855. 

Section 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, that the president 
and executive committee of the Michigan State Agricultural Society, be 
and are hereby authorized to select, subject to the State Board of Education, 
a location and site for a State Agricultural School, within ten miles of 
Lansing; and subject to such approval, contract for and purchase for the 
State of Michigan, such lands, not less than five hundred acres, nor more 
than one thousand acres, in one body for the purpose of an experimental 
farm and site for such Agricultural School: Provided, That the amount to be 
paid for such farm and site shall not exceed fifteen dollars per acre, and that 
the conveyance or conveyances be made to the State of Michigan. 

Section 2. There is hereby appropriated twenty-two sections of salt 
spring lands, or the money arising from the sale thereof, referred to in article 
13, section 11, of the constitution of the State of Michigan, for the purchase 
of land for such site and location, and the preparation thereof, the erection 
of buildings, the purchase of furniture, apparatus, library and implements, 
payment of professors and teachers, and such other necessary expenses to 
be incurred in the establishment and successful operation of said school. 

Section 3. Upon the execution and delivery to the secretary of state 
of the proper conveyance or conveyances of the land, the purchase of which 
is provided for in the first section of this act, and the certificate of the attorney 
general that he has examined the title to the same, and finds it unencumbered, 
and that the conveyance or conveyances are executed in due form, and a 
certificate from the president and secretary of the Board of Education, 
that the same is in accordance with the contract or contracts for the purchase 
of the same, and that the location has been approved by them, the auditor 
general shall draw his warrant or warrants on the state treasurer for the 
amount of such purchase, in favor of the party or parties to whom such sum 
or sums shall be due, payable out of said salt spring lands, or money accruing 
from the sale of the same ; and the said certificates in this section mentioned, 
shall be filed and preserved in the office of the secretary of state. 

Section 4. LTpon the purchase of such location and site, there shall be 
established on such site, under the direction and supervision of the State 
Board of Education, an Agricultural School, by the name and style of the 
Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, and the chief purpose and 
design of which shall be to improve and teach the science and practice of 
agriculture. 

Section 5. The course of instruction in said college shall include the 
following branches of education, viz : an English and scientific course, natural 
philosophy, chemistry, botany, animal and vegetable anatomy and physi- 
ology, geology, mineralogy, meteorology, entomology, veterinary art, men- 
suration, leveling and political economy, with bookkeeping and the mechanic 



478 APPENDIX. 

arts which are directly connected with agriculture, and such others as the 
Board of Education may from time to time see fit to prescribe, having refer- 
ence to the objects specified in the previous section; and the said board may 
establish such professorships, and employ such professors and teachers, 
to be called the Board of Instruction of said college, for the instruction 
aforesaid, as they may judge best for such object: Provided, The sum 
paid such professors and teachers for the first year after said college shall 
go into operation, shall not exceed the sum of five thousand dollars, and for 
the next year, not exceeding the sum of six thousand dollars, and for any 
years thereafter, such a sum as the State Board of Education may deem 
necessary, for the successful operation of the institution. Tuition in said 
institution shall be forever free to pupils from this state, and any number 
of pupils may be admitted who shall apply from any part of this state: 
Provided, That in case more pupils apply than can be accommodated or 
taught, then said board shall adopt some equitable plan giving to each 
county a number according to the ratio of population, as it shall appear 
from the census last taken; and in that case, those from each county shall 
be admitted in the order in which they shall apply, until the quota of such 
county be full. 

Section 6. There shall be two scholastic terms in each year, the first 
term commencing on the first Wednesday in April, and ending on the last 
Wednesday in October, the second term commencing the first Wednesday 
in December, and ending on the last Wednesday in February; and no pupil 
shall be received for less than one term, unless by special permission from 
the Board of Instruction. 

Section 7. The Board of Education, upon consultation with the Board of 
Instruction, shall, from time to time, fix and establish rules as to the number 
of hours which shall be devoted to manual labor and to study, which may 
he different in different terms or seasons; but during the first term in such 
year, the time devoted to labor shall not be less than three, nor more than 
four hours each day; and no student or pupil of said college shall be exempt 
from such labor, except in case of sickness or other infirmity. 

Section 8. The Board of Education shall appoint one of the professors 
in said college to be the president thereof, and one to be its secretary, and 
one to be its treasurer; and the Board of Instruction may establish such 
rules and regulations from time to time, for the government of said college 
and instruction therein, as they may deem proper in any matter not regu- 
lated by the Board of Education; and the rules and regulations adopted by 
such Board of Instruction, shall remain in full force until altered by said 
Board of Education. And said Board of Instruction shall have power, 
subject to the approval of the Board of Education, to establish by-laws for 
the government and discipline of the pupils of said college, in regard to 
conduct and behavior, and to affix such pecuniary penalties as they may 
deem proper, and to prescribe the causes for expulsion or dismissal of any 
such pupil, which by-laws shall have the force of law, unless altered, modified 
or repealed by the Board of Education or the legislature; and the Board of 
Education shall fix the compensation to be credited or paid for the labor 
performed by pupils, under the provisions of section seven of this act. 

Section 9. The president of said Board of Instruction shall preside at 
all meetings of said board, except in cases of sickness or absence; in which 
case the board may elect one of their number president pro-tempore; and it 
shall be the duty of the president to see that all the regulations established 



APPENDIX. 479 

by this act by the Board of Education and by the Board of Instruction, in 
regard to the government and instruction in said college, be enforced. 

Section 10. The secretary of said Board of Instruction shall record all 
the proceedings of said Board, and all the regulations and by-laws for the 
government of said college, and shall publish the same, and furnish a copy 
thereof to the governor of this state, to each member of the Board of Edu- 
cation, to the county clerk of each county, and to the clerk of each organized 
township in this state. He shall also keep a full record of all improvements 
and experiments made on said lands, their cost and results. He shall also 
keep a careful account with each field, in connection with a plan of the 
farming lands or farm, exhibiting the position of each, in which shall be 
shown the manner and cost of preparing the ground, the kind of crop, time 
of planting or sowing, the after condition, the time and manner of harvesting, 
the labor devoted to each process, and its cost price, with the cost of pre- 
paring the matured crop, for market, and the price for which it was sold, 
"and of such other matters as the Boards of Education and Instruction, or 
either of them, may require of him; and he shall furnish a copy thereof at 
the end of each term to the president of the Board of Education; and the 
said record shall, at all reasonable hours, be open to the inspection of any 
citizen of this state. 

Section 11. The treasurer shall receive and keep all moneys arising from 
the sale of products of the farm, and from fines and penalties that may be 
imposed; and shall give bonds in such sum as the Board of Education may 
require. He shall pay over all the moneys upon the warrant of the president, 
countersigned by the secretary, on account of such contingent expenses of 
the institution as may arise. He shall render annually, in the month of 
December, to the Board of Education, and as often as required bj^ said 
board, a full and true account of all moneys received and disbursed by him; 
stating for what received and paid, and shall produce vouchers for such 
payments. The surplus money, if any remain in his hands at the time 
of rendering such account, shall, if required by said board, be paid over to 
the state treasurer, to be placed to the credit of said institution. 

Section 12. After said college shall have commenced its first term, the 
superintendent of public instruction shall appoint visitors for the same, 
who shall perform the like duties required of such visitors by law, in refer- 
ence to the State Normal School. 

Section 13. This act shall take effect immediately. 



480 APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX B. 

RE-ORGANIZATION OF THE COLLEGE. 

I quote a few sections of the Act No. 188, Laws 186L 

Sec. 1. ''The people of the State of Michigan enact, That a board is 
hereby constituted and estabUshed, which shall be known under the name 
and style of 'the State Board of Agriculture.' It shall consist of six mem- 
bers, besides the governor of the state, and the president of the State Agri- 
cultural College, who shall be ex-ofiicio members of the Board. 

Sec. 3. "Any vacancy in the said Board, caused by death, resignation, 
or removal from the state, may be filled by a majority of the members. 
A majority shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. The members 
of the Board shall receive no per diem compensation for their services, but 
shall be paid their traveling and other expenses while employed on business 
of the Board. 

Sec. 4. "They shall meet quarterly, at the State Agricultural College, 
viz: on the last Wednesdays of February, May, August and November, of 
each year, and may meet at such other times and places as they may deter- 
mine. 

Sec. 5. "At their first meeting the members shall choose one of their 
number as president of their Board. 

Sec. 6. "At their first meeting, or as soon after as a competent and suit- 
able person can be obtained, they shall choose a secretary of the Board. 

Sec. 8. "The secretary of the Board shall address circulars to societies, 
and the best practical farmers in the State and elsewhere, with the view of 
eliciting information upon the newest and best mode of culture of those 
products, vegetables, trees, etc., adapted to the soil and climate of this 
state; also, on all subjects connected with field culture, horticulture, stock- 
raising and the dairy. He shall encourage the formation of agricultural 
societies throughout the state, and purchase, receive, and distribute such 
rare and valuable seeds, plants, shrubbery, and trees, as it may be in his 
power to procure from the general government and other sources as may 
be adapted to our climate and soils. He shall also encourage the importa- 
tion of improved breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and other live stock, 
and the invention and improvement of labor saving implements of hus- 
bandry, and diffuse information in relation to the same. He shall encourage 
such domestic industry and household arts as are calculated to promote 
the general thrift, wealth and resources of the state. He shall aid as far 
as possible, in obtaining contributions to the museums and the library of 
the State Agricultural College, and thus to aid in the promotion of agricul- 
ture, science, and literature. 

Sec. 9. "The seeds, plants, trees and shrubbery received by the secretary, 
and not needed by the College, shall be, as far as possible, distributed equally 
throughout the state, and placed in the hands of those farmers and others 
who will agree to cultivate them properly, and return to the secretary's 
office a reasonable proportion of the products thereof, with a full statement 
of the mode of cultivation, and such other information as may be necessary 
to ascertain their value for general cultivation in the state. Information 



APPENDIX. 481 

in regard to agriculture may be published by him, from time to time, in 
the newspapers of the state, provided it does not involve any expense to 
the state. 

Sec. 16. "A full course of study in the institution shall embrace not less 
than four years. The State Board of Agriculture may institute a winter 
course of lectures, for others than students of the institution, under neces- 
sary rules and regulations. 

Sec. 17. "The academical term shall extend from the last Wednesday in 
February to the last Wednesday of November, in each year; the vacation 
shall extend from the last Wednesday in November to the last Wednesday 
in February, and there shall be no other vacation whatever. 

Sec. 20. "The State Board of Agriculture shall have the general control 
and supervision of the State Agricultural College, the farm pertaining thereto, 
and the lands which may be vested in the College by state legislation. 

*Sec. 23. "The Board shall have power to regulate the course of instruc- 
tion, and prescribe, with the advice of the faculty, the books to be used in 
the institution; and also to confer, for similar or equal attainments, similar 
degrees or testimonials to those conferred by the University of Michigan. 

Sec. 24. "The president, professors, farm manager and tutors, shall 
constitute the faculty of the State Agricultural College. The president 
of the College shall l^e president of the faculty. The secretary of the 
State Board of Agriculture shall be a member and secretary of the faculty. 

Sec. 25. "The faculty shall pass all needful rules and regulations neces- 
sary to the government and discipline on the College, regulating the routine 
of labor, study, meals, and the duties and exercises, and all such rules and 
regulations as are necessary to the preservation of morals, decorum and 
health. 

Sec. 27. "No communication at any other time, from members of the 
faculty, shall be entertained by the Board, unless they have been submitted 
to a meeting of the faculty, and sanctioned by a majority. 

Sec. 34. "All the swamp lands granted to the State of Michigan by act 
of congress, approved September twenty-eight, one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty, situate in the townships of Lansing and Meridian, in the county 
of Ingham, and Dewitt and Bath, in the county of Clinton, of which no 
sale has been made, or for which no certificates of sale have been issued 
by commissioner of the Land Office, are hereby granted, and vested in the 
State Board of Agriculture, and placed In the possession of the State Agri- 
cultural College, for the exclusive use and benefit of the institution, subject 
only to the provisions relating to drainage and reclamation of the act of 
congress donating the same to the state. 

Sec. 36. "David Carpenter, of Lenawee county; Justus Gage, of Cass 
county; Philo Parsons, of Wayne county; Hezekiah G. Wells, of Kalamazoo 
county; Silas A. Yerkes, of Kent county- and Charles Rich, of Lapeer county, 
are hereby constituted and appointed the first State Board of Agriculture. 
The governor of the state is hereby authorized to call at as early a date 
as is practicable, and they shall determine by lot the several periods of ser- 
vice, two of whom shall serve for two years, two of whom shall serve for 
four ye.ars, and two of whom shall serve for six years respectively." (9) 
61 



482 APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX C. 

SELECTING AND CARE OF LANDS. 

AN ACT to provide for the selection, care and disposition of the lands 
donated to the State of Michigan, by act of Congress, approved July second, 
eighteen hundred sixty-two, for the endowment of colleges for the benefit 
of agriculture and the mechanic arts. 

Act No. 140, Laws 1863. 

Section 1. "The People of the State of Michigan enact. That the Gov- 
ernor, the Auditor General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney 
General and Commissioner of the State Land Office, shall constitute a board, 
to be knoAvn as the agricultural land grant board, and said Board shall 
have the control and management of the selection, the care and disposal of 
the lands granted to this state by act of congress. ***** 

Sec. 8. "It shall be the duty of said land grant board, from time to time, 
as money is received from the sales of said lands, to cause the same to be 
invested in the stocks of the United States, of this state, or some other safe 
stocks, yielding not less than five per cent annually, upon the par value of 
such stocks, and to keep the same invested to constitute a perpetual fund, 
the capital of which shall remain forever undiminished; and the annual in- 
terest shall be regularly applied, under the direction of the State Board of 
Agriculture, to the endowment, support and maintenance of the State Ag- 
ricultural College, where the leading object shall be, without excluding other 
scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such 
branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanic arts, in 
order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes 
in the several pursuits and professionsin life."^^(9) 



APPENDIX. 483 



APPENDIX D. 

ESTABLISHING A MILITARY SCHOOL. 

AN ACT to establish a Military School in connection with the Agricultural 
College. Act 211, Laws 1863. 

Sec. 1. "The People of the State of Michigan enact, That in addition 
to the course of instruction already provided by law for the Agricultural 
College of this state, there shall be added military tactics and military 
engineering. 

Sec. 2. "The State Board of Agriculture are hereby authorized and 
required to make such additional rules and regulations for the government 
and control of the Agricultural College as may be necessary to carry into 
effect the provisions of section one of this act." (9) 

The passing of this act accomplished little or nothing, as there was no 
appropriation of money made to carry it into effect. 

Since the legislature accepted the proceeds of the National Land Grant, 
in 1862, and the accomi)anying obligations, the question was occasionally 
asked : why the Board of Agriculture did not at once open schools in the 
mechanic arts and in military tactics. Referring to this question, the 
following is taken from the report of the faculty, made by the president 
of the College, T. C. Abbot, for the year 1864, as it appeared in the report 
of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture for that year. 

"There are good reasons, as it seems to us, why no attempt should be 
made, at present, to extend the sphere of the operations of the college 
much beyond what has hitherto been its aims; either by the addition of 
departments of a different nature here, by branch institutions, or by appro- 
priations of a portion of the funds for the purpose of making experiments 
in other sections of the state. 



484 APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX E. 

MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE; FACULTY 
AND STUDENTS IN THE CIVIL WAR, 1861-1865. 

(Most of the following pages were copied from Records of Service of Michigan Volun- 
teers in the Civil War, pubhshed by the State of Michigan.) 

In accordance with a suggestion found in the Speculum, April, 1887, 
the writer presents the list of names of members of the board, faculty and 
students who were in the Union army during a portion of the Civil War. 
To some extent this list explains how it was that the number of students 
during the period dwindled to forty-eight. No doubt this list contains 
some errors and is incomplete. 

At the reunion of the Agricultural College boys of Ionia county, on the 
first evening of the year, 1887, Hon. F. B. Morse,' LL. D. '91 an old M. A. C. 
boy, and a one-armed soldier, responded to the toast, ''The boys who left 
the college to fight for their country, may their example })e an inspiration 
to the boys who leave the college to fight the battle of life." In the course 
of his speech, which was listened to with the eager earnestness that it well 
deserved, the honorable justice of the supreme court, touched upon a point 
that met our hearty approval. He suggested that it would be fitting to 
establish a memorial in honor of the boys that fought for their country a:id 
were left dead upon her fields. Surely we should not forget our heroes, 
and what heroes could be more dear to us or worthy to be remembered, than 
they that left the green old campus to which we are so much attached, and 
marched to fields whose green was to be dyed with their blood. Their 
patriotism was of so noble a quality that their lives were freely given; let 
ours not be so inferior as to allow theirs to be wholly forgotten. On that 
spot where their thoughts turned while trudging on in the long weary march, 
or while they lay wounded and dying on the battle-scorched fields of Gettys- 
burg, let there be erected some frail memorial that shall implore the passing 
tribute of a sigh." 

See Chapter XVI concerning an edifice in honor of the class of 1861. 

George W. Haigh with '62 writes from Mankato, Minn., March 28, 1896: 

"The recommendation of the faculty to obtain the war records of its 
graduates is certainly most wise. 

"I was associated with Gilbert A. Dickey during his entire service in 
the army, first in Capt. Howland's company of engineers, which went out 
under Gen. Freemont. In that company eight students enlisted, Dickey, 
Prentiss, Clute, A. F. Allen, Beebe, Benham, my brother Thomas and myself; 
but we were soon discharged, as we were improperly organized, and when 
Gen. Freemont was relieved from the command of the Department of Missouri, 
we were retired. The .system of signals by means of flags introduced in the 
army by this company was retained and became of great value to the service. 
As I remember this part of my service in the army it seems like a fine rollick- 
ing outing. Good company, little but pleasant duties, swinging of flags 
and riding over the beautiful prairies of southern Missouri. Dickey was 
the first sergeant of this company and he obtained that knowledge of the 



APPENDIX. 485 

commissary department that was so useful to him as commissary sergeant 
of the 24th Michigan Infantry. 

"In August, 1862, we both enlisted in the 24th, he in the regimental non- 
commissioned staff and I, as first sergeant of a company, had ample oppor- 
tunity to become familiar with the difficulties and perplexities of his position 
of supplying rations for a thousand men. There was never a word of fault 
found with his work in this department, either by officers or hungry privates. 
His faithfulness in this work soon earned him promotion to second lieutenant 
of company G; this position gave him more leisure and I saw more of him 
than before. He became a most excellent drill master. 

"You are mistaken (General Catalogue of 1900); he did not fall while 
storming a redoubt at Gettysburg, but was shot and instantly killed while 
we were maintaining a difficult line of battle without breastworks and were 
attacked l^y overwhelming numbers of the rebels. My position was near the 
right of the line; Dickey's on the left. During the lull before the attack 
I went down and had a talk with him and was probably the last person that 
engaged him in friendly conversation. I found him reading his Bible. We 
talked a few moments and looked at the lines of the enemy filing through 
the timber and preparing for the advance. We said 'good-bye' and I re- 
turned to my post and soon came the shouting rebels and poor Dickey was 
no more, and I, wounded, was finding my way to the rear. 

"Two years ago I was at Gettysburg, and visited his grave in the shadow 
of the government monument." 

Alexander, Samuel, (a) 60-61. Member Co. G, 3d Michigan Volunteer 
Infantry, 1861-62. Transferred to head of topographical department, 3d 
Army Corps. Teacher, farmer and fruit grower, Birmingham, Mich. 

Alger, Russell A., Detroit. Entered service in company C, Second 
Cavalry at organization, as captain, Sept. 2, 1861, at Grand Rapids for 3 
years, age 25. Commissioned Sept. 2, 1861. Mustered, Oct. 2, 1861. Com- 
missioned major, April 2, 1862. Wounded in action and taken prisoner at 
Boonville, Miss., July 1, 1862. Escaped same day. Resigned, Oct. 27, 
1862. Commissioned lieutenant colonel. Sixth Cavalry at organization, 
Oct. 16, 1862. Mustered, Oct. 30, 1862. Commissioned colonel. Fifth 
Cavalry, Feb. 28, 1863. Mustered, June 11, 1863. Wounded at Boons- 
boro, Md., July 8, 1863. Returned to regiment, Sept. 13, 1863. Com- 
manding l)rigade from Jan. to Aug., 1864. Resigned and honorably dis- 
charged, Sept. 20, 1864. Brevet major general, U. S. Volunteers, June 11, 
1866, for gallant and meritorious services during the war. Governor, 1885- 
1886; secretary of war, 1897. Died 1907. 

Allen, Albert F., B. S., 1861; M. A., 1876. Manchester. EnUsted in 
Rowland's Engineers, Sept. 16, 1861, at Battle Creek, for 3 years, age 24. 
Mustered, Oct. 9, 1861. Mustered out at St. Louis, Mo. Jan. 8, 1862. 

Allen, Edward P., '58-59., Vassar. Entered service in company A, Twenty- 
ninth Infantry, at organization as first lieutenant, age 24. Commissioned, 
July 29, 1864. Mustered, Sept. 3, 1864. Commissioned adjutant, March 27, 
1865. Discharged to accept promotion, Aug. 9, 1865. Commissioned 
captain, company H, July 7, 1865. Mustered, Aug. 10, 1865. Mustered 
out at Murfreesboro, Tenn., Sept. 6, 1865. (See Members of State Board.) 

Atchison, Charles, (a) 80-82. Corporal, Co. A, 5th Missouri Volunteer 
Infantry, 1898. 309 E. 12th St., Kansas City, Mo. 

Baily, Isaac B., '57-59, Leoni. Enlisted in company D, Twelfth Infantry, 
Nov. 22, 1861, at Leoni, for 3 years, age 21. Mustered, Jan. 8, 1862. Taken 



486 APPENDIX. 

prisoner at Shiloh, Tenn., April 6, 1862. Died of 'disease in prison at At- 
lanta, Ga., May 2, 1862. 

Barker, Frederick L., '67-71 (Veteran). Enlisted in company K, Third 
Infantry, May 13, 1861, at Grand RapidS; for 3 years, age 19. Mustered, 
June 10, 1861. Re-enlisted as sergeant, Dec. 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, 
Va. Mustered, Dec. 24, 1863. Wounded in action at Wilderness, Va., May 
5, 1864. Transferred to company I, Fifth Infantry, June 10, 1864. First 
Sergeant. Commissioned second lieutenant, June 10, 1864. Mustered, Aug. 
12, 1864. Commissioned first lieutenant, company H, Oct. 14, 1864. Mus- 
tered, Nov. 2, 1864. Commissioned captain, Nov. 7, 1864. Mustered, Feb. 4, 
1865. Wounded in action at Petersburg, Pa. Mustered out at Jeffersonville, 
Ind., July 5, 1865. Was in the following battles: Bull Run, Yorktown, Fair 
Oaks, Glendale, Malvern Hill, Groveton, Chantilly, Fredericksburg, Chan- 
cellorsville, Gettysburg, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Wilderness, 
Deep Bottom, Boydton Plank Road and Petersburg. Died Nov. 30, 1888. 

Barney, Henry Lewis, (a) 57-58, 2nd lieutenant Civil War; farmer, 
teacher, register of deeds, Cass County, January, 1873-January, 1877. 
Died June 28, 1911. 

Beebe, Leonard Vernal, Stockbridge. Enlisted in Howland's Engineers 
Sept. 16, 1861 at Battle Creek, for 3 years, age 25. Mustered, Oct. 9, 1861. 
Mustered out at St. Louis, Mo. Jan. 8, 1862. With Mutual Life Ins. Com- 
pany, Portland, Me. Died Aug. 11, 1904. 

Benham, Henry D., Eaton Rapids. Enlisted in Howland's Engineers 
Sept. 16, 1861 at Battle Creek, for three years, age 21. EnUsted in company 
D, Seventh Cavalry, as Sergeant, Sept.' 4, 1862, at Eaton Rapids, for 3 years. 
Mustered, Nov. 13, 1862. Discharged to accept promotion Feb. 24, 1864. 
Entered service in company B, First Colored Infantry as first lieutenant. 
Commissioned March 7, 1864. Died at Beaufort, S. C. July 3, 1864. 

Benham, Isaac D. M., 57-79. Died in the army at Louisville, Ky., 1862. 

Begole, William M., Flint, 60-62. Enhsted in company K, Twenty-third 
Infantry as first sergeant, Aug. 4, 1862, at Flint, for 3 years, age 19. Mus- 
tered, Sept. 12, 1862. Discharged to accept promotion March 27, 1863. 
Commissioned second lieutenant, company A, February 6, 1863. Mustered, 
March 27, 1863. Commissioned first lieutenant, June 20, 1864. Died at 
Chattanooga, Tenn., Oct. 15, 1864 from wounds received in action June 16, 
1864. 

Bigelow, Edwin B., 58-60. First sergeant Company B, 5th Michigan 
Cavalry; captain and brevet-major 9th U. S. Cavalry. Died at Fort Davis, 
Tex., January 16, 1870 of wounds received at Gettysburg, Pa. 

Birney, James Gillespie, 58-59, company C, 1st Sergeant Oct. 14, 1862; 
2nd heutenant 7th Michigan Cavalry, Oct. 15, 1862; 1st heutenant July, 
1863; captain Company D, March 18, 1864; transferred to company C, 
1st Cavalry Sept. 17, 1865, 1st U. S. Artillery, colored, Dec. 1, 1869; at 
close of war A. A. O. G., Department East Tennessee. Druggist. 402 
Steward Ave., Jackson, Mich. 

Blair, Austin, Jackson, member ex-officio of the State Board of Agriculture, 
1861-65; president of the State Board of Agriculture; state senate, 1855; 
Governor, 1860, and in 1862 widely known as the War Governor; 1866 and 
in 1868 and in 1870 elected to congress; regent of the University, 1881. 
Died Aug. 6, 1894. 

Blakeslee, Nathan P., 58-60, Oakland County. Enlisted in Company A 
First Infantry, July 5, 1861, at Ann Arbor, for 3 years, age 19. Mustered, 



APPENDIX. 487 

July 13, 1861, corporal. Discharged for disability at Alexandria, Va., 
Nov. 23, 1862. Died at St. Louis, Mich., February 1, 1888. 

Bliss, Aaron Thomas, was captain company D, 10th New York Cavalry. 
(See his biography in this volume.) 

Bradley, William Foster, 58-59, Adrian. Enlisted in company G, Fourth 
Infantry, March 10, 1862 at Adrian. On detached service with company G, 
First Infantry by order July 2, 1864. Discharged at Washington, D. C, 
Aug. 25, 1864, to accept commission. Re-entered service as first lieutenant 
and adjutant, Fourth Infantry, Aug. 31, 1864. Commissioned to date 
July 26, 1864. Mustered, Aug. 31, 1864. Acting assistant adjutant gen- 
eral, Third Brigade, Oct., Nov., and Dec, 1865. Mustered out at Houston, 
Texas, May 26, 1866. Brevet captain and major United States Volunteers, 
March 13, 1865, for meritorious services during the war. 

Brewer, Emory L., 57-59, Bennington. Enlisted in company K, Fifth 
'Cavalry, as corporal, Aug. 30, 1862, at Detroit, for 3 years, age 26. Mus- 
tered, Sept. 2, 1862. Promoted sergeant. -First sergeant. Commissioned 
second heutenant, company G, Feb. 27, 1864. Mustered, March 26, 1864. 
Honorably discharged Oct. 8, 1864, on account of wounds received in action 
Mav 28, 1864. Died July 30, 1901 at Owosso, Michigan. Buried at Owosso, 
Mich. 

Brooks, Ransom M. (Veteran) Clinton County. Enlisted in company 
B, 8th Infantry, Aug. 14, 1861, at St. Johns for 3 years, age 22. Mustered, 
Sept. 23, 1861. Wounded in action on James Island, S. C. June 16, 1862. 
Re-enhsted as sergeant Feb. 17, 1864 at Detroit, Mich. Mustered, Feb. 17, 
1864. Wounded and taken prisoner in action at the Wilderness, Va., May 
5, 1864. Discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio. June 13, 1865. Died at 
Lansing, Mich., February 17, 1890. 

Browning, Charles H., 59-60. Enlisted in company M, Eleventh Cavalry, 
Dec. 30, 1863, at Vermontville, age 22. Mustered, Jan. 5, 1864. Sergeant. 
Discharged at Pulaski, Tenn. Aug. 10, 1865. Present residence. Battle 
Creek, Mich. 

Canfield, Augustus H., 58-59. Enlisted in company I, 9th Infantry, 
as sergeant Aug. 15, 1861, at Mt. Clemens, for 3 years, age 20. Mustered, 
Oct. 15, 1861. First sergeant. Commissioned second lieutenant, company 
G, Sept. 23, 1862. Mustered, Feb. 12, 1863. Commissioned first lieu- 
tenant company H, April 25, 1863. Mustered, Aug. 3, 1863. Commis- 
sioned adjutant, Oct. 14, 1864. Discharged at expiration of term of service 
Nov. 16, 1864. Died Oct. 14, 1889. Buried at Mt. Clemens. Mich. 

Carpenter, Henry B., 57-58. Lansing. Enlisted in company A, 20th 
Infantry as corporal, Aug. 9, 1862 at Lansing for 3 years, age 27. Mustered, 
Aug. 18, 1862. Sergeant, Oct. 18, 1862. First sergeant, Jan. 17, 1863. 
Commissioned second lieutenant, June 20, 1863. Mustered, Sept. 1, 1863. 
Wounded in action at Cold Harbor, Va., June 3, 1864. Commissioned 
first lieutenant, May 12, 1864. Commissioned captain, company B, 
Oct. 24, 1864. Mustered, Nov. 30, 1864. Aide de camp on Brigade Staff 
from Feb. 17, 1865 to April, 1865. Assistant provost marshal, second 
brigade first division, 9th Army Corps, May 1, 1865. Mustered out and 
honorably discharged at Delaney House, D. C, May 30, 1865. Lansing, 
Michigan. 

Carpenter, Otis W., 61-62, Delta. Enlisted in company D, Seventh 
Cavalry, as sergeant, Sept. 6, 1862, at Delta, for 3 years, age 22. Mustered. 
Nov. 13, 1862. Transferred to company M. Aug. 5, 1863. Taken prisoner 



488 APPENDIX. 

at Trevillian Station, Va., June 11, 1864. Died of disease at Annapolis, 
Md., Dec. 6, 1864. Buried at Annapolis, Md. 

Carr, Alphonso W. 58-59. Captain 1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry, 
Nov. 11, 1863. Killed in action at Trevillian Station, Va. June 12, 1864. 

Case, Daniel Sampson, 57-59. Graduate of West Point, 1864. First 
lieutenant and adjutant 103d N. Y. Volunteers, 1864-65. Died at Iron 
Mountain, Mo., December 10, 1870. 

Chase, Frank R., Otisco. 59-60. Entered service in company B, 25th 
Infantry, at organization, as first lieutenant, commissioned, Aug. 10, 1862. 
Mustered, Sept. 11, 1862. Resigned and honorably discharged Nov. 14, 
1863 to accept appointment in invahd corps. Accepted appointment, 
Nov. 15, 1863. Assigned to company D, Tenth Regiment. Mustered out 
and honorably discharged Jan. 1, 1868, as brevet major and first Heu- 
tenant, 10th Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps. Present address; Smyrna, 
Mich. 

Christiancy, Henry C, Monroe County. 57-58. Enlisted in company 
F, 1st Infantry, April 20, 1861, at Detroit, for 3 months, age 19. Mustered, 
May 1, 1861." Discharged, July 12, 1861, by S. 0. of General McDowell. 
Re-entered service as second lieutenant in company A, 1st Infantry for 
3 years at organization. Commissioned, Aug. 17, 1861. Mustered, Aug. 17, 

1861. Commissioned first heutenant, company F, April 28, 1862. Trans- 
jerred to company A, July 13, 1862. Aide de camp on General Humphrey's 
staff from Nov., 1862 to Sept., 1864. Commissioned captain, Oct. 20, 1862. 
Declined commission. Mustered out at expiration of term of service near 
Weldon R. R., Sept. 24, 1864. Brevet major and lieutenant colonel, 
U. S. Volunteers, March 13, 1865 for gallant and meritorious services during 
the war. 

Clark, Edward G., Monroe, Mich. 57-58. Enlisted in company H, 
18th Infantry, Aug. 15, 1862, at Monroe, for 3 years age 23. Mustered, 
Aug. 26, 1862. Taken prisoner and paroled at Snow's Pond, Ky., Sept. 25, 

1862. Discharged at Detroit, Mich. June 5, 1865. 

Clute, Oscar, M. S., 1865, LL. D., 1893. President of Florida Agricul- 
tural College and director of the Experiment Station, 1893-97; Clergyman. 
Supt. of ranch, Pomona, Cal. (See Presidents, page 91). (See Members 
of the Faculty, page 393). 

Cowles, Albert E., Lansing. 57-59. LL. D. (Univ. of Mich.), 1862. 
Enlisted in company A, 20th Infantry, Aug. 9, 1862, at Lansing, for 3 years, 
age 24. Mustered, Aug. 18, 1862. Corporal Aug. 18, 1862. Discharged 
for disability at Louisville, Ky. May 23, 1863. City clerk, Lansing, 1864-67; 
city attorney, 1868-71; clerk of supreme court, 1867-69; judge of probate, 
Ingham County, 1893-97. Lawyer, Lansing. Killed by street car in Los 
Angeles, California, Nov. 25, 1906. 

Dickerson, Lyman W., 67-68. Member company F, 6th Ohio Volunteer 
Cavalry. General manager of the Comstock Mfg. Co., 410 Locust St , 
Kalamazoo, Mich. 

Dickey, Gilbert A., Marshall. Enlisted in Rowland's Engineers as 
first sergeant, Sept. 16, 1861, at Battle Creek, for 3 years, age 20. Mus- 
tered, Oct. 9, 1861. Mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 8, 1862. Enlisted 
in company E, 24th Infantry, Aug. 12, 1862, at Detroit for 3 years, age 19. 
Mustered, Aug. 13, 1862. Commissary sergeant, Dec. 2, 1862. Sergeant major, 
Jan. 27, 1863. Commissioned second heutenant, company G, March 10, 

1863. Mustered, April 17, 1863. Killed in action at Gettysburg, Pa., 



APPENDIX. 489 

July 1 , 1863. Buried in National Cemetery, Gettysburg, Pa. (See note of 
Geo. W. Haigh on page 483.) 

Eggleston, Charles E., Coldwater, 59-60. Entered service in company 
C, First Infantry as first lieutenant, April 24, 1861, at Coldwater, for 3 
months, age 19. Commissioned; May 1, 1861. Mustered, May 1, 1861. 
Mustered out at Detroit, Mich., Aug. 7, 1861. Present residence, 421 So. 
Summit St., Dayton, Ohio. 

Elder, John A., Lansing, 57-58. Enlisted in company E, 8th Infantry, 
as corporal, June 14, 1861, for 3 years, age 25. Mustered, Jan. 10, 1862. 
First sergeant. Discharged to accept promotion May 13, 1863. Com- 
missioned second lieutenant, March 27, 1863. Mustered, May 13, 1863, 
Wounded in action at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864. Commissioned 
captain, company I, Jan. 8, 1865. Mustered, February 19, 1865. Com- 
manding company D from November, 1864 to July 1, 1865. Mustered 
out at Delaney House, D. C. July 30, 1865. Died April 10, 1889. Buried 
at Lansing, Mich. 

Eldred, Louis S., 61-63. EnHsted in company F, 3d cavalry, Feb. 27, 
1864, at CUmax for 3 years, age 22. Mustered, Feb. 29, 1864. Mustered 
out at San Antonio, Texas, Feb. 12, 1866. 

Farrington, Charles E. 57-58. Enlisted in company M, 2nd Cavalry, 
Sept. 1, 1864, at Jackson, for 1 year, age 23. Mustered, Sept. 1, 1864. Dis- 
charged at Edgefield, Tenn., June 21, 1865. Died at Milan, Mich., Nov. 
20, 1889. 

Farr, George A., B. S., 1890. Enhsted in company K, 1st Infantry, 
April 18, 1861, at Adrian, for 3 months, age 19. Mustered, May 1, 1861. 
Mustered out at Detroit, Mich, Aug. 7, 1861. Orderly sergeant, battery 
M., 4th U. S. Artillery, July, 1861-65; State senator, 1879-83; trustee 
of the Northern Michigan Asylum, 1885-91. Regent of the University of 
Michigan, 1896- ; collector of customs, district of Michigan, 1897- ; lawyer, 
Grand Haven, Mich. 

Foster, Charles T., 57-58. Lansing. Enlisted in company G, 3d In- 
fantry, as corporal, May 10, 1861, at Grand Rapids, for 3 years, age 23. 
Mustered, June 10, 1861. Sergeant. Killed in action at Seven Pines, Va., 
May 31, 1862. 

French, Alfred 0., Royalton. 60-61. Enlisted in company C, 25th In- 
fantry, as corporal, Aug. 9, 1862, at Royalton, for 3 years, age 18. Mus- 
tered, Sept. 10, 1862. Sergeant, Feb. 6, 1865. Discharged at New York 
City, May 23, 1865. Present residence, Lincoln, Mich. 

Greene, William M., Lansing. 57-59. Law student at Ann Arbor 
1860-62. Enlisted in company A, 20th Infantry as sergeant, Aug. 9, 1862, 
at Lansing, for 3 years, age 22. Mustered, Aug. 18, 1862. First sergeant 
Oct. 2, 1862. Discharged to accept promotion, April 25, 1863 by S. 0. 
No. 163. Commissioned 2nd lieutenant, Jan. 28, 1863. Killed in action 
at Horse Shoe Bend, Ky., May 10, 1863. Buried in National Cemetery, 
Mill Springs, Ky. Grave No. 6, Section F. 

Griswold, Joseph B., Vermontville. 59-60, 62-63. M. D. (Rush Med. 
Coll.) 1868-. Entered service as second assistant surgeon, Fourth Infantry. 
Commissioned, Nov. 15, 1864. Mustered, to date, Dec. 12, 1864. Dis- 
charged for promotion to date, Jan. 8, 1866. Commissioned surgeon, Jan. 
9, 1866. Mustered, Jan. 9, 1866. Mustered out and honorably discharged, 
May 26, 1866. City physician, 1876-78; alderman, 1880-82; member of 
the Board of Education, 1885-89; president of the Michigan Medical Society, 
1897. Physician and surgeon, 184 N. Lafayette St., Grand Rapids, Mich. 



490 APPENDIX. 

Gunn, Daniel R. Enlisted in company D, Twenty-first Infantry, Feb- 
ruary 29, 1864 at Grand Rapids, for 3 years, age 24. Mustered, March 
1, 1864. Joined regiment at Chattanooga, Tenn., April 7, 1864. Wounded 
in action, March 19, 1865. Discharged by G. O. No. 77, War Department. 

Haigh, George W., 57-60, Dearborn. Enlisted in company D, 24th 
Infantry, as first sergeant, Aug. 12, 1862, at Dearborn, for 3 years, age 23. 
Mustered, Aug. 13, 1862. Wounded in action at Fredericksburg, Va., May 
29, 1863. Commissioned first heutenant July 4, 1863. Mustered, Oct. 7, 
1863. 

Haigh, Thomas, 60-61, M. D. (N. Y. College of Phys. and Surg.), 1865; 
Member company D, 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry; assistant pro- 
fessor of physiology, 1866-68. Physician. Died in New York, N. Y., June 
8, 1871. 

Hammond, Josiah T., 57-59, Tekonsha. Entered service In company I, 
20th Infantry, at organization, as second lieutenant, age 22. Commis- 
sioned, July" 20, 1862. Mustered, Aug. 19, 1862. Commissioned first 
heutenant, company K, Jan. 26, 1863. Mustered, April 25, 1863. Re- 
signed and honorably discharged, March 16, 1864, by S. 0. No. 119, War 
Department. Present residence, Jackson, Mich. 

Hollister, Ralph H., 61-63. Enlisted in company B, 11th Cavalry as 
sergeant, Oct. 1, 1863, at Victor, for 3 years, age 21. Mustered, Oct. 7, 
1863. Quartermaster sergeant. Transferred to company G, Eighth Cav- 
alry, July 20, 1865. Mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 22, 1865. 
Farmer, 1865-74; supervisor of Victor township for three years; merchant; 
county clerk. Lake County, 1880-81; supervisor of Webber township, 
1895-98. County clerk and register of deeds, Lake County, 1898-. Bald- 
win, Michigan. 

Holhster, Charles E., Victor. B. S., 1861, M. S., 1865. Enhsted in 
Howland's Engineers, Sept. 16, 1861, at Battle Creek for 3 years, age 22. 
Mustered, Oct. 9, 1861. Mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., Jan 8, 1862. County 
surveyor, Shiawassee county, for many years; farmer, Laingsburg, Mich. 
Died at Laingsburg, Mich., April 11, 1900. 

Ingersoll, Charles L. Commerce. M. S., 1877. Enlisted in company 
G, 9tii Cavalry, March 7, 1863, at Commerce, for 3 years, age 18. Mustered, 
May 19, 1863. Transferred to company A, May 1, 1864. Commissary 
sergeant, May 1, 1864. Mustered out at Lexington, N. C, July 21, 1865. 
Died at Grand Junction, Colo., Dec. 8, 1895. (See Professors.) 

Jerome, David Howell. In 1862, he raised the 23rd Michigan Infantry, 
commandant in camp with the rank of colonel. In 1863-66 military aid to 
Governor Crapo; 1865 member of the State Military Board. State senator, 
member of committee, 1873 to revise the state constitution; trustee of the 
Michigan Military Academy; governor, 1881-84. Died 1896. 

Jewell, Charles Adolphus, M. S., 1865. Sergeant company I, 8th Mich- 
igan Infantry, August 15, 1862; 2nd heutenant, December 31, 1863; 1st 
lieutenant, March 27-June 26th, 1865. Township supervisor, 1897-98; 
president of a Farmers' Club for several years; master of a grange, 1898. 
Farmer, Hudson, Michigan. 

Johnson, Colonel D., 59-62, M. D. (University of Michigan), 67. Assist- 
ant surgeon, 3d Michigan Volunteer Cavalry, April 4, 1865-January 15, 
1866; Physician. Died, January 26, 1876. 

Kedzie, Robert Clark, A. M., M. D., D. Sc, LL. D. Entered service 
in 12th Infantry at organization, as assistant surgeon, Jan. 15, 1862, at 
VermontviUe, for 3 years, age 37. Commissioned, Jan. 15, 1862. Mustered, 



APPENDIX 491 

Jan. 23, 1862. Commissioned sm-geon April 25, 1862. Resigned, Oct. 8, 
1862. Died at Agricultural College, Mich., Nov. 7, 1902. Buried in Mount 
Hope Cemetery, Lansing, Mich. (See Professors.) 

Kilbourn, Joseph H, Lansing. 61-64. Enlisted in company E. 1st 
Sharpshooters, June 30, 1863, at Lansing, for 3 years, age 27. Mustered, 
July 8, 1863. Promoted sergeant Oct., 1863. Promoted first sergeant, 
Nov., 1863. Discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability at Chicago, 
III, March 22, 1864. Postmaster at Big Rapids, 1887-91. Farmer and 
fine stockbreeder. Big Rapids, Mich. 

Knorr, Albert H., 59-60. Enlisted in company A, Hall's Independent 
Sharpshooters, Sept. 5, 1864, at Mottville, for 1 year, age 24. Mustered, 
Sept. 7, 1864. Transferred to company F, First Michigan Sharpshooters, 
March 15, 1865. Discharged near Georgetown, D. C, June 3, 1865. Pen- 
sioner, Mottville, Michigan. 

Leeds, Alex., 58-59. First Lieutenant company H, 6th Michigan Volun- 
teer Infantry; railway postal clerk for 20 years. Dentist, Grafton, W. V. 

Leeds, Lodowick C., 59-60. Third sergeant company C, 25th Michigan 
Volunteer Infantrv, August 8, 1862-July, 1865; merchant. Deputy col- 
lector of internal revenue, July 1, 1899-. Ill Veal St., Dallas, Texas. 

Lewis, Charles B., 57-58. Enlisted in company G, 3rd Infantry, May 13, 

1861, at Grand Rapids, for 3 years, age 19. Mustered, June 10, 1861. Dis- 
charged for disability, Sept. 1, 1861. Enlisted in company E, 6th Cavalry, 
Feb. 17, 1865 at Jackson, for 1 year, age 23. Mustered, Feb. 17, 1865. 
Transferred to company H, First Cavalry, Nov. 17, 1865. Discharged 
at expiration of term of service at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Feb. 17, 1866. 
Journahst with nom-de-plume of "M. Quad." No. 71 Third Place, Brook- 
lyn, N. Y. 

Lewis, Henry G., Lansing. 57-58. Enhsted in company D, 6th Cav- 
alry, Sept. 8, 1862, at Lansing, for 3 years, age 24. Mustered, Oct. 11, 

1862. Discharged at Washington, D. C, June 19, 1865. Died Lansing, 
Mich. 

Main, Sidney G., Owosso. 62-63. Entered service in Company E, 
29th Infantry, at organization, as first lieutenant. Commissioned, July 
29, 1864: commanding company, April 30, 1865. Mustered out at Mur- 
freesboro, Tenn., Sept. 6, 1865. Ex-county surveyor, Emmet and Shia- 
wassee counties. Surveyor, real estate dealer and lumberman, Brutus, 
Michigan. 

Manchester, Caleb. 57-58. Member 11th Michigan Volunteer Infantry. 
Traveling salesman. 436 Maple St., Battle Creek, Michigan. 

Manchester, EUas. 67-68. Enhsted in Company F, 1st Cavalry, Feb. 13, 
1865, at Battle Creek, for 1 year, age 17. Mustered, Feb. 15, 1865. Joined 
regiment, May 25, 1865. Discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Dec. 5, 
1865. Farmer and stock breeder, Hastings, Neb., 1885-94. Carpenter 
and builder, 802 East 15th St. Kansas, City, Mo. 

Markham, Alonzo B., Plymouth. 60-61. (Univ. of Mich.), 1868. En- 
listed in company C, Twenty-fourth Infantry, Aug. 5, 1862, at Plymouth, 
for 3 years, age 19. Mustered, Aug. 15, 1862. Transferred to Invalid 
Corps, Dec. 9, 1863. Discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, July 2, 1865, from 
company D, 22d Regiment, Veteran Reserve Corps. Banker and lawyer, 
Mayville, Mich. 

Marston, William Henry Pickering was a soldier in the Civil War, where 
he was wounded making it necessary to remove eleven and one-half inches 
of the tibia; later he founded the Amasa B. Watson Post, Grand Rapids, 



492 APPENDIX. 

Michigan. He died while serving as postmaster of Fitzgerald, Georgia. 
For other items, see his biography in this volume. 

McCreery, William B., Flint. Enlisted in company F, 21st Infantrv, 
as sergeant, April 23, 1861, at Flint, for 3 years, age 24. Mustered, May 25, 

1861. Appointed second heutenant to date, July 10, 1861. Appointed 
quartermaster, July 25, 1861. Commissioned captain, company G, Sept. 
10, 1861. Wounded in action at Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862. Honor- 
ably discharged to accept promotion, Dec. 1, 1862. Commissioned lieu- 
tenant colonel, 21st Infantry, Feb. 3, 1863. Mustered, March 18, 1863. 
Taken prisoner at Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 20, 1863. Escaped from Lil)by 
Prison Feb. 9, 1864. Resigned on account of disability, Sept. 14, 1864. 
Died December 9, 1896. Buried at Flint, Mich. In Gen. Thomas's order 
is the following: "On account of wounds (six in number) received at various 
times in action, while in discharge of duty, the honorable scars of which he 
now wears. In accepting the resignation of Col. WiUiam B. McC^reery, 
the major general commanding takes occasion to express his high apijrecia- 
tion of the sokUerly qualities and faithful discharge of duty which have 
ever characterized Col. McCreery's actions at the same time regretting 
the existence of the disability which compels the withdrawal of so valuable 
an officer from the service." (See Members of State Board.) 

Martin, E. Brook, 62-63. Member 22nd Michigan Volunteer Infantry. 
House of representatives, Michigan, 1881-83. Farmer, Bozeman, Mont. 

McVean, David E., Lowell, 61-62. Enhsted in company B, sixth (riv- 
alry, as corporal, Sept. 15, 1862, at Grand Rapids, for 3 years, age 20. Mus- 
tered, Oct. 11, 1862. Sergeant, Nov. 1, 1863. Quartermaster sergeant, 
Feb. 1, 1865. Mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., Nov. 24. 1865. 
Died, Ajjril 29, 1902. Buried at Grand Rapids, Mich. 

Millard, W. Scott, Constantine. 64-65. Enlisted in company E, 
(reorganized) Eleventh Infantry, Feb. 28, 1865 at Three Rivers, for 1 year, 
age 18. Mustered, Feb. 28, 1865. Mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 
16, 1865. Died, July 27, 1895. Buried at Niles, Mich. 

Morehouse, Thomas B., Lansing. 58-. Enlisted in company A, 20th 
Infantry, as corporal, Aug. 9, 1862 at Lansing, for 3 years, age 23. Mus- 
tered, Aug. 18, 1862. Sergeant, Dec. 25, 1862. First sergeant, Nov. 6, 1863. 
Wounded in action, May 12, 1864. Commissioned first heutenant, Oct. 
24, 1864. Mustered, Dec. 5, 1865. Commanding company from May 4, 
1865. Mustered out and honorably discharged at Delaney House, D. C, 
May 30, 1865. 

Morse, Allen Benton. Ionia. 1857-60. Enlisted in company B, 16th 
Infantry as sergeant, July 30, 1861, at Ionia for 3 years, age 22. Mustered, 
Sept. 7, 1861. Commissioned first lieutenant, company I, 21st Infantry, 
Dec. 16, 1862. Discharged to accept promotion, Dec. 26, 1862. Com- 
missioned adjutant, Feb. 3, 1863. Discharged to accept promotion, April 
9, 1863. Mustered, April 10, 1863. Wounded in action at Mission Ridge, 
Tenn., resulting in amputation of arm, Nov. 25, 1863, while on staff duty 
as acting assistant adjutant general. Resigned and honorably discharged 
Sept. 1, 1864. Prosecuting attorney, Ionia County, 1867-71; state senator, 
1875; mayor of Ionia, 1882; justice of the supreme court, 1886-92; U. S. 
consul to Scotland, 1893-95. Lawyer, Ionia, Mich. 

North, Elmer D., Ingham County. 61-62. Enlisted in company E, 
Eighth Infantry, Aug. 14, 1861, at Lansing, for 3 years age 20. Mustered, 
Sept. 23, 1861. Discharged for disabifity at Washington, D. C, Jan. 6, 

1862. Re-entered service in company D, 14th Infantry, as sergeant. 



APPENDIX. 493 

Enlisted, Dec. 3, 1861, at Lansing for 3 years. Mustered, Feb. 13, 1862, 
In commissary department from June, 1864 to Feb., 1865. Discharged 
at expiration of term of service at Fayetteville, N. C, March 14, 1865. Pres- 
ent residence, Lansing, Mich. County superintendent of schools, 1871-75; 
teacher, 1875-79; secretary Board of Examining Surgeons, 1885-92. Physi- 
cian. 

Osband, Edwin R., Wayne County. 57-58. Enlisted in company H, 
engineers and mechanics, as sergeant, Oct. 23, 1861, at Marshall, for 3 
years, age 25. Mustered, Oct. 29, 1861. Discharged at expiration of term 
of service at Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 31, 1864. In auditor general's office. 
Farmer. Died at Lansing, Mich., December 8, 1892. 

Palmer, Oscar, M. D., 57-58. (Columbian Univ., O.) 1864. Member 
company C, U. S. Sharpshooters, June, 1861. Transferred as hospital 
steward to 2d U. S. Sharpshooters; assistant surgeon, January 20, 1864. 
Resigned, October, 1864; house of representatives, 1883-85; ex-prosecuting 
attorney, Crawford County; medical director, G. A. R., Department of 
Michigan, 1895-99. Physician, farmer and lawyer. Grayling, Michigan. 
(See Members of State Board.) 

Paulding, Cornelius. Monroe City. 57-58. Enhsted in company A, 
4th Infantry, as sergeant, June 20, 1861, at Adrian, for 3 years, age 20. 
Mustered, June 20, 1861. Color sergeant. Died of disease at Washington, 
D. C, Aug. 12, 1861. 

Pierce, Almon J. South Haven. 65-67. Enhsted in company G, 
19th Infantry, Aug. 15, 1862, at South Haven, for 3 years, age 19. Mustered 
Sept. 5, 1862. Discharged at St. Louis, Mo., March 12, 1863, to enhst in 
Marine Brigade. Discharged at Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 17, 1865. County 
surveyor, Van Buren County, Mich, and Brown County, S. D., surveyor. 
Grand Forks, S. D. 

Pingree, Hazen S. Enlisted in company F, Massachusetts Heavy Artil- 
lery. (See his biography in this volume.) 

Prentiss, Albert N., Marshall. 1861, B. S. 1864, M. S. Enlisted in 
Howland's Engineers as corporal, Sept. 16, 1861 at Battle Creek, for 3 
years, age 25. Mustered, Oct. 9, 1861. Mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., 
Jan. 8, 1862. (See Professors.) 

Preston, Charles M., 64-65. Enlisted in company D, Seventh Cavalry, 
Sept. 9, 1864, at Oneida, for 1 year, age 22. Mustered, Sept. 9, 1864. Regi- 
ment, Oct. 30, 1864. Wounded in action at Louisa Court House, Va., March 
8, 1865. Discharged at Fort Monroe, Va., July 8, 1865. Present residence, 
Grand Ledge, Michigan. 

Prutzman, Edward N., Three Rivers, 61-63. Enlisted in 25th Infantry 
as sergeant major, Sept. 11, 1862, at Kalamazoo, for 3 years, age 20. Mus- 
tered, Sept. 11, 1862. Discharged to accept promotion, March 1, 1863. 
Commissioned second lieutenant, company I, Feb. 6, 1863. Reported as 
first lieutenant. Mustered, March 1, 1863. Commissioned adjutant, 
June 17, 1863. Mustered, June 17, 1863. Acting assistant adjutant 
general. First Brigade, Second Division, 23d Army Corps, Aug., 1863. 
Killed in action at Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864. 

Redfern, Francis W. 62-63. Enlisted in company C, First Cavalry, 
Feb. 14, 1865 at Kalamazoo for 1 year, age 22. Mustered, Feb. 14, 1865. 
Promoted quartermaster sergeant. Discharged at Fort Leavenworth, 
Kan., Dec. 5, 1865. Present residence. Essex, Michigan. 

Russell, Orlando D. 59-61. Enlisted in company G, First Infantry, 
April 24, 1861 at Burr Oak, for 3 months, age 21. Mustered, May 1, 1861. 



494 APPENDIX. 

Mustered out at Detroit, Mich., Aug. 7, 1861. Dealer in farm produce, 
Sturgis, Mich. 

Scott, Alexander H., Schoolcraft. 58-60. Enhsted in company C, 
6th Infantry as sergeant, June 19, 1861, at Fort Wayne, for 3 years, age 21. 
Mustered, Aug. 20, 1861. Promoted to hospital steward, Dec. 10, 1862. 
Discharged to accept commission in Corps d'Afrique, Aug. 13, 1863. Com- 
missioned first heutenant, 12th Corps d'Afrique. Re-entered service 
as assistant surgeon, in 12th Infantry at DeVall's Bluff, Ark. Commissioned, 
Oct. 10, 1864. Mustered, Dec. 26, 1864. Mustered out at Camden, Ark., 
Feb. 15, 1866. Present residence, St. Joseph, Mich. Mayor of St. Joseph, 
four terms; physician and surgeon. 

Skinner, John D., Jr., Windsor. 57-59. Enlisted in company B, 2d 
U. S. Sharpshooters, Sept. 29, 1861, at Detroit for 3 years, age 27. Mustered, 
Oct. 4, 1861. Killed in action at Rappahannock River, Va., Aug. 21, 1862. 

Skinner, Merritt Clark. 57-59. University of Michigan, 1860-61; mem- 
ber company A, 21st Indiana Volunteer Infantry, July 5, 1861-February 
10, 1866; teacher, 1866-70; druggist, 1870-74; county superintendent of 
schools, 1874-76; principal of schools at Albion, 1876-82; clerk of the 
Noble circuit court, 1883-92. Drainage commissioner and insurance 
business, Albion, Michigan. 

Smith, Wilham Augustus. 57-58. First lieutenant company H., 22d 
Michigan Volunteer Infantry, July 31, 1862. Captain company H, January 
5, 1863. Died of wounds received in action at the battle of Chickamauga, 
Oct. 11, 1863. 

Stevens, Theron A. Stockbridge. 58-60. Enlisted in company E, 
17th Michigan Infantry, Aug. 12, 1862, at Ypsilanti, for 3 years, age 19. 
Mustered, Aug. 19, 1862. Mustered out at Delaney House, D. C, June 3, 
1865. Principal of schools at Bath, 1875-85; at Stockbridge, 1888-91, 93-95; 
county commissioner of schools, Ingham County, 1891-94; farmer, hard- 
ware merchant, Stockbridge, Mich. 

Sweet, Albern K., Burns. 57-58. Enhsted in company H, Fifth In- 
fantry, Aug. 8, 1862, at Owosso, for 3 years, age 23. Mustered, Aug. 8, 
1862. Wounded in action at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Discharged 
May 31, 1865, to accept appointment in U. S. colored troops. Shirt manu- 
facturer, 1864-88. Contractor for painting and decorating, 1896. 30 
Gratiot Ave., Detroit, Michigan. 

Thomas, Wilham A., Barry County. 58-60. Enlisted in company F, 
Eighth Infantry, as sergeant, Sept. 7, 1861, at Prairieville, for 3 years, 
age 21. Mustered, Sept. 23, 1861. Discharged for disability at Port Royal, 
S. C, Jan. 6, 1862. Postmaster at Cheney at the time of death. Died 
at Cheney, Kan., November 11, 1896. 

Thompson, Alvaro Jerome Ward. 58-60. Member company C, 32d 
Iowa Volunteer Infantry, August 14, 1862-June 14, 1865; county auditor, 
1881-87. Secretary of the Dakota County Building Association and fire 
insurance agent, Hastings, Mich. 

Tracy, Samuel Mills, M. S., 1876. Member company A, 41st Wisconsin 
Volunteer Infantry, 1864. Editor of the ''Practical Farmer," 1875-77 
professor of botany and horticulture in the University of Mo., 1877-87; 
director of the Mississippi Experiment Station, 1888-97; author of a Manual 
of Botany for the Use of Elementary Schools in the Southern States, 1900. 
Editor and botanist, Biloxi, Miss. 

Van Fleet, John M. 64-65. Member 8th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry. 
Judge of the 34th Judicial Circuit, Indiana, November 15, 1888-November 



APPENDIX. 495 

15, 1894. Author of "Van Fleet's Collateral Attack on Judicial Proceed- 
ings," "Res Judicata." Lawyer, Elkhart, Indiana. 

Van Loo, Cornelius, Zeeland. 58-59. Enlisted in company F, 21st 
Infantry, as corporal, Aug. 15, 1862, at Greenville, for 3 years, age 24. 
Mustered, Sept. 3, 1862. First sergeant, March 1, 1863. Wounded in 
action at Chickamauga, Ga., Sept. 20, 1863. Commissioned first lieu- 
tenant, Dec. 1, 1862. Mustered, Sept. 22, 1863. Commanding company, 
Sept. 22, 1863. Mustered out at Washington, June 8, 1865. Register of 
deeds, Ottawa county, 1869-75; farmer, 1875-82; house of representatives, 
1881-84; real estate dealer, 1882-90; furniture manufacturer, 1890-99. Sec- 
retary and treasurer, Zeeland Furniture Manufacturing Co., Zeeland, Mich. 

Wallace, James N. Lyons. 59-60. Entered service in company D, 
9th Infantry at organization, as second lieutenant, Sept. 5, 1861, at Lyons, 
for 3 years, age 22. Commissioned, Oct. 12, 1861. Mustered, Oct. 15, 1861. 
Commissioned first lieutenant, company K, July 28, 1862. Mustered, 
Feb. 12, 1863. Discharged to date Oct. 26, 1863, to accept promotion as 
captain, 13th U. S. Colored Infantrv. Furniture and real estate business, 
1865-. No. 5 Prospect St., Ypsilanti, Mich. 

Wellings, James H., Dewitt. M. S., M. D., (Bellevue Hosp. Med. Coll.) 
1874. Student at the college, 1860-63. Enlisted in 1st company, Sharp- 
shooters, attached to 27th Infantry, Feb. 27, 1864, at Dewitt, for 3 j^ears, 
age 24. Mustered, March 1, 1864. Re-entered service in compan}^ E, 
2d Infantry as second lieutenant. Commissioned, April 1, 1864. Mustered. 
June 29, 1864. Discharged, Dec. 28, 1864, S. 0. No. 471, War Department. 
Present residence, Lansing, Michigan. 

Wheeler, Charles Fay, B. S, In the 147th regiment of Infantry, New 
York Volunteers. (See Professors). 

Whitney, Truman W. 64-65; later at Hillsdale College. Member com- 
pany E, 8th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry; farmer, manufacturer. General 
attorney for Ann Arbor R. R. Co., St. Louis, Mich. 

Wisner, Edward M., Pontiac. 58-60. Enlisted in company D, Fifth 
Infantry as sergeant, June 19, 1861, at Fort Wayne, for 3 years, age 19. 
Mustered Aug. 28, 1861. Commissioned first lieutenant, company A, 
22d Infantry, at organization, July 31, 1862. Mustered, Aug. 22, 1862. 
Resigned on account of disability, Jan. 31, 1863. Last address, Fulton, N. Y. 

Wood, Webster A., Livonia. 57-58. Enhsted in company K, 24th In- 
fantry, as musician, Aug. 5, 1862, at Livonia, for 3 years, age 20. Mus- 
tered, Aug. 13, 1862. Mustered out at Detroit, Mich., June 30, 1865. Brick 
manufacturer, carpenter, farmer, stone mason, Northville, Mich. 

Yerkes, Silas A., Lowell. Entered service in compan}^ C, 13th Infantrj^, 
at organization, as second lieutenant, age 27. Commissioned, Oct. 3, 1861. 
Mustered Jan. 17, 1862. Discharged to accej^t promotion May 20, 1862. 
Commissioned first lieutenant. May 15, 1862. Mustered, May 21, 1862. 
Discharged to accept promotion, April 6, 1863. Commissioned captain, 
Feb. 26, 1863. Mustered, April 7, 1863. Wounded in action at Chicka- 
mauga, Ga., Sept., 1863. Brevet major, U. S. Volunteers, March 15, 
1865, for meritorious services during the campaign in Georgia and the Carol- 
inas. Commissioned major, May 12, 1865. Discharged on account of 
disability, May 15, 1865. (See Members of State Board.) 



496 APPENDIX. 



APPENDIX F. 

Next follow in alphabetical order the opinions of alumni referred to who 
have had the dual experience of teaching in a separate agricultural college 
and in one connected with a university. It concerns teaching agriculture 
in at least thirty-three states: 

L. H. Bailey, '82, professor of horticulture, later professor of horticulture 
and dean of the Agricultural College of Cornell University. He writes: 

"The old schism between the college of agriculture .and the university 
has passed out in nearly all the states in which the two are combined. 
The progress in this direction in the last five and ten years has been enor- 
mous and the old spirit in the best institutions no longer exists. For myself, 
I am convinced that the largest educational results are going to be secured, 
at least on the real college and post-graduate grades, when agriculture takes 
its rightful place with other subjects in a high college and university scheme. 
The time will soon be, if it is not already here, when a university that is 
a university must include agriculture. 

"It was not until forty years after the founding the Michigan Agricul- 
tural College that the colleges and departments established in connection 
with universities began to find themselves, and to make great headway." 

Charles E. Bessey, '69, professor of botany (for a time including horticul- 
ture) fourteen years in Iowa State College; professor of *botany thirty- 
four years in the University of Nebraska, four years acting president: 

"The college of agriculture fares better as one of the colleges of a broadly 
planned university." 

E. A. Burnett, '87, assistant professor of agriculture; later professor of 
animal husbandry in South Dakota Agricultural College; later professor 
of animal husbandry. University of Nebraska; later dean and director Ne- 
braska Experiment Station: 

"There is economy in consolidation of the physical plants into one insti- 
tution. Political rivalry and the duplication of instruction is frequently 
avoided. 

"On the whole I look to see the best investigation done in our larger in- 
stitutions where the time of the investigator is not taken up with instruction. 
I also expect to see the highest standards of instruction in combined institu- 
tions." 

K. L. Butterfield, '91, superintendent of farmer's institute, instructor 
in University of Michigan, president of the Agricultural College of Rhode 
Island, and later of Massachusetts Agricultural College, writes: 

"It was a fortunate thing for agriculture that so many of the agricultural 
colleges were originally organized as separate institutions. Generally 
speaking during the last twelve or fifteen years the agricultural colleges 
connected with state universities have taken the lead. In general, how- 
ever, it is fair to say that in recent years the agricultural colleges connected 
with the universities have become the leaders. 

"As to the future, there are many advantages that come from the organic 
connections of the agricultural college with the state university, and there 
will always be the danger of duplication and excessive cost in those states 
where the university and the agricultural college are separate." 



APPENDIX. 497 

R. C. Carpenter, 73, instructor and professor in Michigan Agricultural 
College for fifteen years, professor of experimental engineering in Cornell 
University for twenty-four years: 

"At present agricultural colleges hold their own in all our universities 
where they are combined. It is certain that M. A. C. has been wonderfully 
successful." 

L. A. Clinton, '89, was assistant professor of agriculture in Clemson 
College, S. C, assistant agriculturist Cornell Experiment Station, director 
Storrs Experiment Station and professor of agronomy, Connecticut Agricul- 
tural College for ten years; agriculturist in charge of farm management 
North Atlantic States for U. S. Dept. Agr. He writes: *'I can see abso- 
lutely no reason why the agricultural college should not do its work just 
as well if it were located at the university. At the present time agriculture 
is the popular course and is likely to overshadow all of the other depart- 
ments of the university with which it is located." 

A. B. Cordley, '88, instructor in the University of Vermont, assistant 
entomologist in the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, dean and director of the 
Agricultural College of Oregon. He strongly favors an agricultural college 
connected with a good university. 

C. S. Crandall, '73, instructor at M. A. C. for five years; professor of horti- 
culture and botany in Colorado Agricultural College for some years; pro- 
fessor of pomology and plant breeding in University of Illinois for twelve 
years, writes: "When at Michigan Agricultural College I was made to 
feel that it was better for an agricultural college to be entirely separate 
from a university. In the pioneer days I believe that more was accomplished 
by its being alone, but as they stand today, I believe that in most states 
there are decided advantages in having the agricultural college connected 
with the state university." 

E. Davenport, '78, professor of agriculture, later dean and director of the 
agricultural college of the University of Illinois: 

"1. The agricultural students have a wider range of choice in the non- 
technical subjects, and manifestly upon the whole a higher grade of in- 
struction than would be available in an institution organized primarily 
for agriculture. 

"2. They receive this non-technical instruction in company with students 
of other and varied interests, all of which tends greatly to the broadening 
of the minds of the men. 

"3. All the associations of the institution are more varied and tend 
strongly to the creation and preservation of a broader atmosphere, an atmos- 
phere more closely akin to the life of the world outside of college. 

"4. Conversely, the inluence of the agricultural student is wholesome 
upon students of other courses in the university. 

"5. The agricultural faculty has superior opportunities for securing 
information along kindred scientific and economic fines, thereby being 
sure from day to day that thej^ are in step with the very latest advancement 
in collateral l)ranches of learning. In this way, through their university 
affiliations, this facult.y comes at once into immediate touch with institu- 
tions of the highest order the world over. 

"6. The agricultural faculty that maintains its work with credit in the 
university exerts a widespread and powerful, though indirect influence over 
students in the other colleges of the institution, tending to give agriculture, 
as such, good standing in the minds of non-agricultural people, who other- 
wise would have little acquaintance with its aims and purposes. 
63 



498 APPENDIX. 

"7. The broader associations within the college must inevitably lead 
to broader views outside in the practical business and social relations of 
life. 

"8. A single institution operating along many lines is able to build up 
within the state an educational unity which is almost impossible of creation, 
with two or three institutions developed along separate lines. 

"9. Last of all, it is cheaper than to duplicate laboratories and depart- 
ments, such as those in general science, language, history, etc." 

E. E. Elliott, resident graduate '90-'93, M. S., '11, professor of agricul- 
ture. Agricultural College of Washington; dean of the college of agriculture, 
University of Idaho, writes: 

"After an experience of many years and covering three different institu- 
tions, in my opinion the ideal arrangement for an agricultural college is to 
be connected with and be an integral part of a state university. I find 
that the separate agricultural college always aspires to develop into a uni- 
versity on its own account and there is always an antagonism between two 
institutions where such is the case, with tendency on the part of the univer- 
sity to become supercilious and on the part of the agricultural college to feel 
looked down upon. Wherever the college has had a chance to stand on 
equal terms it has dominated the university." 

V. R. Gardner, '05, instructor in horticulture. University of Maine; pro- 
fessor of pomology, Oregon Agricultural College, writes: "In general animal 
husbandry, dairying, horticulture are taught as well in the one as in the 
other, but apparently the more academic or liberal arts, subjects, such as 
English, mathematics, history, economics and the languages are generally 
more satisfactorily handled in the university than they are in the strictly 
land grant college." 

E. S. Good, 1903, instructor at M. A. C. and at the University of Illinois, 
later professor of animal husbandry in the University of Kentucky: " Taking 
everything into consideration it is better for an agricultural college to be 
connected with a good university than to exist by itself." 

P. G. Holden, '89, assistant in the Experiment Station, later assistant 
professor in the University of Illinois; later superintendent of agricultural 
extension in Iowa State College: 

"Agricultural colleges separate from universities have exerted a much 
greater influence upon agriculture than those Avhere the college was estab- 
lished in connection with the university. 

"It is my behef that from the standpoint of agricultural education they 
will continue to exert a greater influence upon the public mind upon agri- 
cultural practises." 

F. W. Howe, '93, U. M.; M. A. C, '09, instructor in agriculture at M. A. C; 
dean of the college of agriculture in Syracuse University, writes: 

"We are very well satisfied indeed, with our condition and outlook here 
for the college of agriculture. There is a unique condition in the fact that 
we have not a cent of aid from state or federal sources and are working out 
a history that must be different from that of the state colleges of agricul- 
ture; and I feel that the differences are in our favor. I do not know of any 
state college presidency or deanship that I would be willing to accept, with 
its pohtical entanglements, at a salary equivalent to what I receive now." 

George C. Humphrey, '01, instructor in animal industry, and still later 
professor of animal husbandry in the University of Wisconsin: 

"From what I have been able to observe, I beheve that it is preferable 
to have the college a part of a good university. It aids in getting the best 



APPENDIX. 499 

possible trained men and necessary equipment for the teaching of all sub- 
jects. It avoids jealously and wire pulling, which is apt to exist between 
two separate institutions dependent upon their legislature for support. 
It makes it much easier to secure the necessary appropriations. It tends 
to turn the minds of all the people of the state toward their univer- 
sity, and therefore enables a university to exert the greatest good in educat- 
ing the people of a state. It gives students in other colleges an opportunity 
to get into sympathy with agriculture and, vice versa, agricultural students 
to appreciate the work of the other colleges. The growing popularity of 
agriculture tends to give the college of agriculture its just portion of funds 
for support. 

W. D. Hurd, '99, ''I have had experience in three types of institutions. 
M. A. C. represented the type where agriculture and engineering were tied 
up together. The University of Maine represented the type where the col- 
lege of agriculture is attached to the university, and the Massachusetts 
agricultural college is purely an agricultural institutioi]. 

''On the whole from my own experience and a good deal of study and 
observation in other states, I think the college of agriculture allied wath the 
state university represents the better type. Better feeling usually exists 
within the state, it is more economical of state funds, and students are 
certainly benefited by coming in contact with others who are pursuing en- 
tirely different lines of work. 

W. C. Latta, 78, instructor, later professor of agriculture at Purdue Uni- 
versity, Indiana, and now, also superintendent of farmers' institutes: 

"I promptly passed your letter of January 26th around among the M. A. 
C. men who are here. 

"To make a long story short, we believe that the agricultural college 
could start best as a separate institution. We believe, however, that under 
existing conditions there are advantages in the combined school. I would 
give two other reasons for the combined school, at the present time: 

" 1st. Better facilities. 

"2nd. Spur to maintain the standard which comes from contact with 
other aggressive courses of study." 

J. S. Moore, '03, instructor and post graduate associate professor of horti- 
culture in University of Wisconsin. 

He says: "If there is a provision made for giving the agricultural students 
the kind of work they need for the work which is to come later, then 
I believe that it is a very great advantage to have the agricultural college 
combined with the university." 

F. B. Mumford, '91, assistant professor of agriculture; later dean of the 
college of agriculture in the University of Missouri: 

"As a result of twenty years of experience and observation I am unhesi- 
tatingly in favor of the organization of an agricultural college in connection 
with a university. Some of the advantages of this plan over the separate 
organization of these two institutions are as follows: 

"The standards of scholarship are higher in the agricultural colleges 
associated with universities. 

"The requirements for admission are more rigidly enforced. 

"The best type of technical instruction in agriculture at the present time 
is found in those colleges of agriculture associated with universities. Insti- 
tutions searching for men in agronomy, animal husbandry, horticulture, 
and dairy husbandry do not find these leaders in the separate agricultural 



500 APPENDIX. 

college in the same proportion as in the colleges of agriculture associated 
with universities. 

H. W. Mumford, '91, instructor, assistant or professor of agriculture at 
M. A. C. for six years; professor in the University of Illinois for thirteen 
years: "To my mind there is only one answer to this question, and that 
is, it is a decided advantage to an agricultural college to be a college of a 
great university. 

"The more I have thought about it, the more certain I am that in every 
state where the colleges and universities are separate both the agricultural 
college and the university are handicapped and that this handicap will 
become so evident in the future that amalgamation or mediocrity is in- 
evitable." 

Wendall Paddock, '93, professor of horticulture in the Agricultural Col- 
lege of Colorado; later professor of horticulture in the Agricultural College 
of Ohio State University: 

"It is my candid opinion that an agricultural college is better off when 
attached to a strong state university. The principal reasons for this are 
that the associations tend to prevent lopsidedness in both instructors and 
students. Many men of national repute visit a university during the year 
that are never seen at agricultural colleges. 

E. Dwight Sanderson, '97, has taught or served as entomologist in Mary- 
land, Delaware, Texas, New Hampshire and since 1912 has been director 
of the Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of West Virginia. 
He writes: "I think there is no question that everything being equal, a 
college of agriculture in connection with the university has much better 
chance for success. I believe that over ninety per cent of the men who 
have had experience with both classes of institutions will agree with this 
view. I believe rightly done it would be much to the advantage of several 
states to have the agricultural college made a part of the university under 
the same board of control, even though it might be located on its present 
campus." 

V. M. Shoesmith, '01, for five years instructor in Kansas Agricultural 
College, two years at the State University of Ohio, and five years professor 
of farm crops at M. A. C. He writes: "While there are doubtless ad- 
vantages in having the agricultural college connected with the university, 
these do not in my opinion overshadow the advantages of the smaller in- 
stitutions. The instructions of these institutions is so good, and the train- 
ing for citizenship on the whole better than that offered by the large uni- 
versity." t 

L. J. Smi.h, '06, instructor in farm mechanics, professor of agricultural 
engineering V the University and Agricultural College of Manitoba, writes: 
"I believe there are advantages in having the agricultural college in close 
touch with other colleges of a large university. It is my opinion that these 
agricultural institutions that are connected with universities will probably 
turn out better graduates for investigation work." 

J. W. Toumey, '89, instructor at M. A. C. two years; professor of biology 
in the university of Arizona seven years; assistant professor or director of 
forest school at Yale University fourteen years: 

"The forest school at Yale has its own board of governors, its own faculty, 
its own endowment and is largely independent, in its organization and 
work. I firmly believe that we gain a good deal in being a graduate school 
of the university rather than an independent school located at some other 
place." 



APPENDIX. 501 

James Troop, '78, instructor, later professor in Purdue University joined 
in the statement made by W. C. Latta in favor of a union. 

H. E. Van Norman, '97. student instructor in dairy husbandry; later 
instructor in dairy husbandry, Purdue University, Indiana; later professor 
of dairy husbandry, Pennsylvania State College, still later professor in the 
University of California: 

"With the institution, as at Wisconsin, the school of agriculture benefits 
by its broader contact. On the other hand, I believe it is easier to secure 
from the legislature a half million dollars for each of three institutions than 
it would be to secure a million and a half for the same three lines of work 
in one institution. 

''I do not think of a single institution which has had aggressive leadership 
that has seriously suffered because either it was separate or it was connected 
with a university. 

"I am confirmed in the opinion that men are broader and that there is 
a decided advantage in having an agricultural student come in contact 
with men who are equally observant in some other subject than agriculture. 
Down at Berkeley where we find the agricultural students mingling with 
students of science, engineering and liberal arts, I feel that these men are 
the better." 

C. A. Willson, '06, has not yet replied to my letter of inquiry, but expressed 
verbally his approval of an agricultural college joined to a university. He 
was instructor in animal industry at M, A. C, later professor of the same 
in the University of East Tennessee. 

C. G. Woodbury, '04, instructor, later associate horticulturist in Purdue 
University, Indiana : 

"It has seemed to me that the agricultural college of a state should be 
a part of the state university. Agricultural students do need to be given 
as wide an outlook as possible. I believe that they need to be made to 
realize more fully than they now realize, the cultural background of their 
technical studies. I believe this wide outlook is less difficult to secure in 
a many sided university than it is in a agricultural college." 



502 APPENDIX. 



NEXT BELOW ARE GIVEN THE OPINIONS OF SOME GRADUATES 
OF M. A. C. WHO TAUGHT ONLY IN A SEPARATE COL- 
LEGE OF AGRICULTURE OR IN AN AGRICULTURAL 
COLLEGE JOINED TO A UNIVERSITY. 

Hugh P. Baker, '01, had experience teaching in horticulture in Iowa 
Agricultural College; department of forestry in Pennsylvania State College 
and dean of the college of forestry at Syracuse. Dean Baker says: 

''The college of forestry at Syracuse has a separate board, and is supported 
by the State of New York, true the chancellor of the university is nominally 
chief executive of the college of forestry. 

"I don't believe that a college of agriculture attached to a large university 
can do as efficient work in the training of men as can a college of agriculture 
developed by itself as in the case of M. A. C, Pennsylvania State College 
and others." (Compare this opinion with that of director Tourney of Yale. 
The views are exactly opposite.") 

C. P. Close, '95, "My experience is limited to teaching in M. A. C, Utah 
Agricultural College, Delaware College, Maryland Agricultural College. 
These are not connected wnth a university. My vote would be not to unite 
the agricultural with the university." 

Charles E. Ferris, '90, instructor, professor and dean of engineering in 
succession for twenty-two years in the University of Tennessee: 

"For two reasons I am convinced that the state university and the land 
grant college should be one institution : First, for the broader culture which 
is given to students of agriculture and engineering. This daily influence 
on the vocational group cannot be overestimated. Second, where the 
land grant college and the state university are separate institutions, there 
are continual jealousies." 

C.P.Gillette, '84, instructor in M. A. C; entomologist in Iowa Experi- 
ment Station; professor and director in Colorado Agricultural College; 
He says: "I believe that in most of our states it is better today to have the 
two institutions connected in one." 

Dr. U. P. Hedrick, '93, writes: 

"I have taught in three agricultural colleges, Oregon, Utah and Michigan, 
where there was no direct connection between the college of agriculture 
and the state university and in all three I have felt that there was a distinct 
loss because of the distant relationship in the institutions. I am now in a 
state where the college of agriculture has its place in the university with the 
colleges of law, medicine, arts and science and from a more or less intimate 
knowledge of the relations these colleges hold to each other I am all the 
more certain that there is great gain in the close association of agricultural 
colleges with those of the other arts and sciences. At one time or another 
I have spent a week or more at the state universities in Ohio, Wisconsin, 
Illinois and Missouri, in all of which the college of agriculture is a part of 
a university as in New York. It has seemed to me in all of the states last 
named that the union of colleges of which agriculture was one was good. 
I am not so sure about the desirability at this late date of union between the 
Michigan Agricultural College and the University of Michigan if such union 
means the same board of control and a division of funds but I am very cer- 
tain that there would be much gain to the college and some gain to the 



APPENDIX. 503 

university if the relationship between the two institutions were closer, close 
enough so that work done in one institution should count for its full value 
in the other and close enough so that there would be frequent interchanges 
of students and faculty in the work of the two institutions." 

E. R. Lake, '85, instructor at M. A. C, professor of botany and forestry 
in Oregon Agricultural College; professor of the same in Washington Agri- 
cultural College, writes: 

'^ Personally I can see no good reason, now with the large resources at 
their command why an agricultural college should be part of a university. 

C. A. McCue, '01, professor of horticulture in Delaware College, says: 

"I think there are greater advantages in the agricultural college connected 
with the university. Such connection has a tendency to give the agricul- 
tural student a much broader outlook and it also gives the opportunity 
to take related courses in the university." 

N. S. Mayo, '88, has been connected with the teaching in Agricultural 
Colleges in Michigan, Connecticut, Kansas and Virginia, all separate. 

"I am therefore partial to agricultural colleges separate from the univer- 
sities, agriculture is coming to its own, hence there is not the necessity for 
a separate organization that formally existed." 

Howard R. Smith, '95, "Since leaving M. A, C, my work as instructor 
or professor has been, one year in Missouri, several years at the University 
of Nebraska, and three years at the University of Wisconsin. When a student 
in Michigan, I thought our plan there the best. Since leaving I have be- 
come converted to the idea that it is better to have the agricultural college 
on the same campus with the state university. With consolidation, dupli- 
cation is avoided and the state can afford to pay high salaries to get the very 
best men available." 

W. A. Taylor, '88, never a teacher in an agricultural college, was pomol- 
ogist, and recently chief of the bureau of plant industry, writes: 

"If the spirit of the state university is broadly sympathetic with the 
needs of the plain people, there is a distinct advantage in having the agri- 
cultural college associated with the university." 

W. J. Beal, not an alumnus of M. A. C. but for forty years a teacher there 
and a teacher, in part, of all those quoted herein, excepting professors 
Prentiss, and Bessey. The reader may like to know what he, the writer 
thinks about this question. Here it is: 

"Agricultural colleges started like those of Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania, 
Maryland for the first thirty years were better begun independently; after 
that time, their chances for success were much enhanced by a connection 
with a university." 

"In this connection it is also interesting to present the view of J. L. Snyder, 
the present president of the college, who is quoted in the Michigan Alumnus 
for November, 1911, as saying: 

"Of course, I do not believe that the Michigan Agricultural College with 
53 years of achievement behind it, and the State College of Mines, with 
25 years of splendid work to its credit could be completely absorbed, but 
I think the time has come when they could be closely affiliated with the 
University of Michigan diploma, and it could not fail to give greater prestige 
to the graduate than a diploma from the separate school. The greatest 
difficulty with the proposition would be in the governing board. Under 
the present system the office demands only two or three days a month. If 
there were the three institutions to look after, however, the demands might 
be much heavier. If remuneration, in the way of a salary, is offered, the 
sta^e will not be able to secure as efficient men." 



INDEX. 



INDEX. 

A. 

Page 

Abbot Hall •• 271, 273 

Abbot, Mary M 472, 473 

Abbot, T. C 45, 50, 71, 79, 385, 388, 401 

Admission raised in 1899 141 

Advertising good 104 

Agricultural College, provided for in State Constitution 1850 6 

Agricultural department at Trinity, Ct., about 1821-5 4 

Agricultural journals and books few in 1857 19 

Agricultural laboratory, first 1889 92 

Agricultural laboratory, second 136 

Agricultural School on Thompson's Island, Massachusetts Baj^, 1804 4 

Agricultural students few 288 

Agricultural surveys 176 

Agriculture at University, plan for 1837 2, 5 

Agriculture, condition in 1857 17 

Agriculture in high schools 177 

Agriculture, professor much needed 35 

Alexander, Samuel 485 

Alger, Governor Russel A 330, 331, 332, 488 

Allen, Hon. Edward Payson 365, 367, 485 

Alumni, advisory council 216 

Alumni association 214 

Alumni, local clubs 215 

Amherst College gave instruction in agriculture, 1853-4 4 

Amusements, too many 130, 131 

Anderson, Prof. A. C 462, 463 

Anderson, Dr. Edward Playfaii- 428, 429 

Anniversary, fortieth 307 

Answering questions 174 

Appendix A., establishing school 477 

Appendix B., reorganization 450 

Appendix C, selection of lands 482 

Appendix D., military school 483 

Appendix E., college men in Civil War 484 

Appendix F., Should an agricultural college be separate or with university? 496 

Appropriations by legislature 302 

Arboretum 255 

Arboretum begun in 1873 73 

Arboretum in winter 307 

Armory 271 

Artesian well, 177 feet at Botanic Garden 110 

Atchison, Charles 485 

Athletics, advantages of in college 224 

Athletics, objections, as usually conducted 225 

Attendance ". 287, 288, 289, 293, 294 

B. 

Babcock, Prof. Warren 132, 460, 461 

Bacteriological laboratory 106, 279 

Bagley, Governor Jolm J 32 

Bailey, Isaac B 485 



508 INDEX. 

Page 

Bailey, Dr. Liberty Hyde 422, 423 

Baird, Secretary Robert Gardner 82, 380, 381 

Baker, H. P., an agricultural college is no better with a universitv 502 

Baker, Prof. J. F f 456, 457 

Baldwin, Governor Henry P 3 27 

Bandholtz, Prof. Harry Will 439, 440 

Barbacue 129 

Barker, Frederick 486 

Barn, beef 1 14 

Barn, experiment station 96 

Barn for bulls 118 

Barn for cattle 115 

Barn, horticultural 51, 268 

Barn, sheep 268 

Barney, H. L 486 

Barns, account of 282 

Barns, location of old ones 154 

Barrows, Prof. Walter Bradford 100, 437 

Bartlett, E. L., wins trophy sheep shearing at St. Louis Exposition 110 

Bartlett, S. M., in 18.54 for the agricultural society, resolves for a separate in- 
stitution 13, 14 

Bartlett, S. M., superintended the erection of the first buikling in 1856 15 

Bathhouse built 108 

Bathhouse, first 272 

Bathhouse, second 272, 279 

Baxter, Hon. Witter J 67, 323, 324 

Beal, W. J., an agricultural college is better with a university 503 

Beal, Dr., plants 2 2-10 acres pines, 1896 105 

Beal, Dr., portrait of 215 

Beal, Dr., presents his Fortieth Report 124 

Beal, Dr. W. J., author of History of M. A. C 414 

Beal, Mrs. H. A 415 

Beaumont, Hon. John Wesley 376, 377 

Beckwith, W. C, suggests short course 67 

Beebe, L. V 486 

Begole, Governor Josiah W 330, 331 

Begole, W. M 486 

Benham. H. D 486 

Benhami J. D 486 

Berry, L. G 385 

Bessey, Dr. E. A 464 

Bessey, Dr. C. E., an agricultural college better with a university 496 

Bessey, Dr. C. E, comments concerning teaching 60 

Big stone by Class of '73 243 

Bigelow, E. B 486 

Biographical sketches 318 

Bird, Hon. Arthur Cranson 383, 384 

Birds, Michigan bird life. Prof. W. B. Barrows 438 

Birds of Michigan by Prof. A. J. Cook 100 

Birds, nesting on campus 263 

Birnev, James G 486 

Bissell, Dean G. W 309, 456, 457 

Blacksmith shop 270 

Blair, Governor Austin 325, 486 

Blaisdell, Dr. T. C 453, 454 

Blakeslee, N. P 486 

Bliss, Governor Aaron T '. 336, 337, 370, 371, 487 

Board of Agriculture recommended 34 

Boai'ding clubs 216 

Boarding hall 15, 73, 267 

Bogue, Prof. E. E 106, 115, 449 

Boiler house chimney 109 

Boiler house, first 100, 270 

Bond, students 217 

Botanic garden 101, 252, 253 



INDEX. 509 

Page 

Botanical laboratory, addition 1 16 

Botanical laboratory, first 85, 270 

Botanical laboratory, second 272 

Botany, mode of teaching 183, 184-189 

Boyden, William Edward 365, 367 

Boys growing corn 172 

Bradley, W. F 487 

Breckenridge, Dr. Lester Paige 97, 431, 432 

Brewer, Prof. Chester Leland 447, 448 

Brewer, E. L 487 

Bridge along lane 27 

Bridge, rustic over brook 57 

Brooks, R. M 487 

Brown, Secretary Addison Makepeace 30 i, 305, 384, 385 

Browning, C. H' 487 

Building for soils 123 

Bflildings, not well made 35 

Bulletins, already printed in 1891 95 

Burnett, Dean E. A., an agricultural college better with a university 496 

Buskirk, Hon. Henry Franklin 371 

Butterfield, Hon. Ira Howard 382, 383 

Butterfield, Pres. K. L., an agricultural college alone or with a university? 496 

Butterfield, K. L., first put system into institutes 161 

C. 

Cadet Corps '. 31 

Campus and buildings 259 

Campus, by C. W. Garfield, '70 262 

Campus, described by President Abbot 260 

Campus, described bv the author : 261 

Canfield, A. H ". 487 

Card playing . . . : 43 

Carnival or circus 129 

Carpenter, Hon. David 339 

Carpenter, H. B 489 

Carpenter, O. W 487 

Carpenter, Dr. R. C, an agricultural college better alone or with a university?. . 493 

Carpenter, Dr. Rolla Clinton 75, 417, 418 

Carpenter, Dr. William Leland 374, 375 

Carr, A. W 488 

Cary, F. G., founder of Farmers' College in Ohio, 1833 4 

Case, D. S .• 488 

Cases of insects given to seventy-five high schools 108 

Catalogue, first general 101 

Cement walks 264 

Chamberlain, Hon. Henry 356, 357 

Changes, many of the professors 91 

Changes of teachers, many made 1891 93 

Chapel, attendance 43, 72, 315 

Chase, F. R 488 

Cheap teachers 309 

Chemical laboratory 268, 269 

Chemistry, at the Agricultural College, early taught 39 

Chemistry, mode of teaching 181 

Childs, Hon. J. Webster 349 

Cholera serum, piggery for 120 

Christiancy, H. C 488 

Church, peoples' 213 

Civil War hindered the College 37, 484 

Clark, A.J 470, 471 

Clark, E. G 488 

Clark, Samuel, State Constitution pi-ovides for an agricultural college, 1856 6 

CUnton, Prof. L. A., an agricultural college alone or with a university? 497 

Close, C. P., an agricultural college is no better with a university 502 



510 INDEX. 

Page 

Clute, Prof. Oscar, in praise of the first teachers 30 

Clute, Oscar, President 91, 393 

Clute, Oscar 488 

Cold storage 274, 278 

Coleman, M. L 385 

College, aims of 316 

College befriended by State Grange, Agricultural Society, Horticultural Society. . 81 

CoUege buildings 264 

College, comments by people in early daj^s 58 

College established previous to demand 44 

College ethics 314 

College extension work 157 

CoUege hall 3, 65, 265, 306 

College, little farming to teach in 1857-1867 65 

College located in 1855, farm purchased 14 

College, map of in 1870 66 

College, name of, change of name 313 

College, reorganization 480 

College spirit 311, 312 

College yells 222 

Commercial fertilizers, inspecting 176 

Common school direct to college, old law 137 

Compulsory labor giving way about 1897 200 

Conclusion, marking sj'stem 306 

Conundrum club 208 

Cook, Prof. A. J., in selection of presidents and professors 392, 412 

Cook, Dr. A. J., portrait of -. 214 

Cooley, Dr. Thomas M., early education in Michigan 1 

Cooperation of M. A. C. and U. of M 315 

Cooperative association 16 

Cordley, Dean A. B., an agricultural college better with university 497 

Corn house built by Professor C. L. IngersoU 79 

Course of study in 1863 41, 52, 61, 69, 137, 132 

Cousin, M. Victor, his work in Michigan 1 

Cowles, A. E 488 

Cows, many fine ones 122 

Crandall, Prof. C. S., an agricultural college better with a university 497 

Crapo, Governor Henry H 326 

Crary, Isaac Edwin, read Cousin with J. D. Pierce 1,2 

Crittenden, Prof. John Jordan 430, 431 

Cron, Lieut. A. C 465, 466 

Croswell, Governor Charles M 328, 329 

D. 

Daily program in 1858 139 

Dairy barn 272, 274 

Dau-y building 132, 285 

Davenport, Dean Eugene, an agricultural college better with a university 497 

Davenport, progress of agriculture 92, 233 

Davis, B. F 385 

Dedication of college, remarks by Hon. H. L. Miller; Governor Bingham, Address 

by Joseph R. Wilhams, President 22 

Deer park 263 

Degrees, conferring, authorized 1861 34, 44 

De Lancy, Prof. J. B 133, 467, 468 

Demonstrations at fairs .• 170 

Dewev, Hon. Thomas Dustin 354 

Dickey, G. A., killed in Civil War 484, 488 

Dickinson, L. W ' 488 

Difficulties at the college, some of them 81 

Directors of experiment stations, one-sixth of all from M. A. C 126 

Directory of breeders of live stock 144 

Division, agricultural 135 

Doherty, Hon. Alfred J 373 



INDEX. 511 

Page 

Dormitory system 119 

Drawing, mode of teaching 190 

Durand, Dr. William Frederick 424, 425 

Dwelling for the Entomologist 76 

Dwelling for farm 122 

Dwelling for the President built 1S74, No. 1 77 

Dwellings, four oldest 267 

Dwellings Nos. 2 and -3 78 

Dwellings, Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7 32, 'A3, 34, 35 

Dwellings, Nos. 8, 10 80, 83, 271 

Dyckman, Hon. Aaron S 352, 353 

E. 

Eclectic house 197 

Education, early impuLse from Germany and France 1 

*]ducation, outlined by Comenius 55 

Edwards, Dr. Howard 430 

Eggleston, C. E 489 

Elder, J. A 489 

Eldred, L. S 489 

Electric lights provided 103 

Elliott, B. E., an agricultural college better with a universitj' 498 

Elm Park Lad, a steer wins at stock show 103 

Elm trees on the roadside, 1878-79 74 

Elms on roadside 260 

Endowments for experiments, Adams fund 301 

Hatch fund ^ 298 

Endowment for educating common people sought by Prof. J. B. Turner 297, 297 

Endowments and appropriations 295 

Endowments. Nelson Act ■. 301 

Engineering buildings 281, 282 

Engineering division organized 1885 82 

Engineering laboratory, first 148 

Engineering, mode of teaching 185 

English, teaching helped by cooperation of the professors of botany and 

horticultm-e 87 

Entomology, gifts by Senator McMillan 93 

Eustace, Prof. H. J. 458, 4.59 

Excursions, first series 104, 178 

Exhibits at state fairs 160, 169 

Experiment stations. Government aid promising in 1885 83 

Experiments for farmers in 1862 47 

Experiment station of Michigan organized 360 

Experiment substation at South Haven 301 

Extension class in political economy 170 

Extension work with alfalfa 172 

Extension schools 171 

Extension topics 157, 299 

Extension work 157 

F. 

Faculty, 1889, 1890, 1898 90 

Faculty, heavy work by 70 

Faculty, the first appointed and ready. May, 1857 15 

Fairchild, Prof. G. T., acting president 71, 390 

Fairchild, Prof. G.^T., hard worked 71 

Fairchild, G. T., professor 410, 411 

Farm enlarged 133 

Farm house 24, 56, 268 

Farm, plan of in 1875 59 

Farmers' clubs, J. T. Daniels 309 

Farmers' college, Ohio, '1833 4 

F; rmers' institutes began at M. A. C., 1876 158 



512 INDEX. 

Page 

Farmers' institutes for women 160 

Farr, G. A : . . 489 

Farrington, C. E 489 

Female Seminary and the College in 1859 30 

Fenton, W. M., urged the founding of an agricultural college, 1849 5 

Ferris, Dean C. E., an agricultural college i.s better with a university 502 

Fever and ague in 1857-60 29 

Fifth year, cut of, in 1914 142 

Fifth year prefixed to course 106 

Fisk, L. B., Acting President, administration 40 

Fisk, Prof. L. B 387 

Fletcher, Dr. S. W 453, 454 

Flower seed for schools 176 

Foot ball 221 

Fortieth anniversary 103 

Foster, C. T 489 

Fountain, class of 1900 245 

Fountain, modern 242 

Forestry, a division or a department 143 

Forestry laboratory (first dairy) 276 

Forest plantations thriving 133 

Fox, Rev. Charles, Professor of Agriculture in the University, 1S54 9 

Fraternities, alumni oppose 119 

French, A. O 489 

French, Prof. W. H 410, 460, 461 

Friends began a manual labor boarding school near Adrian, Michigan, 1847 4 

Fruit garden bv Professor Bailev 88 

Fruit garden in 1862 ."" 46 

Fuger, Capt. F. W 452, 454 

G. 

Gage, Hon. Justus, 1854 for the State Agricultural Society asks the Legislature 

to begin a school 13 

Gage, Hon. Justus 339, 346 

Gard, Hon. Milton Jackson 353 

Gardiner, of Maine, 1821, a working school in 1821 4 

Gardener, Prof. V. R., an agricultural college better with a university 498 

Garfield, Hon. Charles WilUam 358, 358 

Gas piped from Lansing 119 

Gilchrist, Dean Maude 444 

Gillette, Director C. P., an agricultural college is better with a university 502 

Girls in attendance in 1870 69 

Glidden, Hon. Asa Chapin 360, 361 

Goadby, Prof. Henrj', professor 398 

Good, Prof. E. S., an agricultural college better with a university 498 

Gorton, L. G., President. 99, 395 

Gorton, L. G., President, resigns 101 

Graduates of high schools admitted without examination 106 

Graduate School of Agriculture 132, 147 

Graham, Hon. Robert Darwin 369 

Grand stand . 221 

Grange, great influence of 228 

Grange helps all institutes 164 

Grange, secures cabinet office 231 

Grange secures monev for experiments 231 

Grange, Prof. E. A. A 422, 423 

Greeley, Horace, interest in college 37 

Green, W. M 489 

Greenhouse built in 1902 94 

Greenhouse, experimental 280 

Greenhouse, first, second 68, 269 

Gregory, Hon. J. M 319 

Griggs, G. W., comments on college 70 

Griswold, J. B 489 



INDEX. 513 

Page 

Grout floors for rats 267 

Gulley, Prof. Alfred Buck 415, 416 

Gulley, Prof. Alfred G., early times of college 63 

Gunn, D. R 470 

Gunnison, James H., on the opening of the college 27 

H. 

Haigh, G. W 490 

Haigh, George W., concerning G. A. Dickey 484 

Haigh, Richard, Jr., secretary pro tempore 379 

Haigh, Thomas 490 

HaUigan, Prof. C. P 470, 471 

Hammond, J. T 490 

narrower. Prof. George Hatfield 420, 421 

Harwood, Prof. Peter Merrick 433, 434 

Heating plant 200 

Hedrick, IT. P., an agricultural college is better with a university 502 

Hedrick, Prof. Ulysses Prentiss 105, 445, 446 

Hedrick, Dr. W. 100, 455 

Herbarium reaches 102,000 specimens 110 

Hesperian house 198 

Hickok, Horatio, Professor of Agriculture and Political Economy at Trinity, Ct. . 4 

Hitchcock, Edward, commissioner in Massachusetts, 1851, to visit Europe for 

agricultural schools 3 

Hodgeman, F., speaks well of college 44 

Hog cholera 172 

Holden, P. G., an agricultural college no better separate from a university 498 

Holdsworth, W. S., Professor 115, 450, 451 

HoUey, Prof. G. M 460, 461 

Hollister, C. E 490 

HoUister, R. H 490 

Holmes, J. C., very active in the interest of an agricultural school 14 

Holmes, J. C., plan for an agricultural school, 1851, a separate school 12 

Holmes, J. C 385, 400 

Holmes, John C., Secretary of State Agricultural Society, 1849 and later worked 

for an agricultural college 5 

Home economics 150 

Horse barn 18, 112, 219 

Horticultural laboratory, 1888 88, 272 

Horton, Hon. George Byron 357, 358 

Hosford, Hon. Oramel 347, 348 

Hospitals 105, 118, 283, 284, 286 

House of Phi Delta Society 201 

Howard, Hon. Sanford, Secretary 378, 379 

Howard Terrace, apartments for small f amihes 87, 272 

Howe, Dean F. W., an agricultural college better with a university 498 

Hubbard, Hon. Bela, active for an agricultural school, 1849-50 6 

Humplirey, Prof. J. C., an agricultural college better with a university 498 

Humphrey, E. O., President of the State Agricultural Society, has a good word. . 86 

Hunt, Prof. Agnes 465, 466 

Hurd, Prof. W. D., an agricultural college is better with a university 499 

Hurt, Prof. L. M 458, 459 

I. 

Improving the new farm 34 

Ingersoll, Professor C. L 415, 416, 490 

Insects, sets of to high schools 173 

In.spect farms 127 

Inspecting nurseries 172 

Inspecting cows 172 

Institutes, copied from Illinois 158 

Institutes, farmers begun 1875 71 

Institutes for mechanics 104, 165 

65 



514 INDEX. 

Page 

Iowa, the second state to start an agricultural college 33 

Items for newspapers 173 

J. 

Jeffery, J. A., Professor Soil Physics 106, 448, 449 

Jerome, Gov. David H 329, 330 

Jerome, D. H 490 

Jewell, C. A 490 

Johnson, Colonel D 490 

Johnson, Prof. Samuel, difficulty in teaching agriculture 89 

Johnson, Prof. Samuel, improvements in equipment during his stay 89, 418, 419 

Johnston, Prof. W. W 465, 467 

Judging stock 193 

^Junior Hop 129 

K. 

Kedzie, Dr. Robert Clarke 75, 108, 406, 407, 490 

Kedzie, Dr. Frank Stewart 439 

Keller, Dean Maude Ryland 441, 442 

Kell, Prof. W. H 451 

Kellogg, Hon. J. R 320, 321 

Kenaston, C. A., quoted 35 

Kilbourne, J. H 491 

Knapp, Hon. Samuel 348 

Knorr, A. H 491 

L. 

Labor, not all in afternoon 139 

Labor, skill in shoveling sand 197 

Labor, student's opinions of others 205 

Laboratories, seven of them 107 

Lake, Dean E. R., an agricultural college is no better with a university 503 

Landon, Linda E., Librarian 472, 473 

Lands, selection of 482 

Latta, Prof. W. C, an agricultural college is better with a university 499 

Leeds, L. C 491 

Leeds, M 491 

Legislature, in 1850, asks Congress for 300,000 acres of land to support an agricul- 
tural school in Michigan 7 

Lewis, C. B 491 

Lewis, Prof. Edson 434, 435 

Lewis, H. G 491 

Librarians 472 

Library and museum 270 

Library in 1862 45 

Lights for campus 264 

Literary societies 205 

Literary societies for women 308 

Lockwood, Prof. John Alexander 422, 423 

Longyear, Ephraim 385 

Lothrop, E. H., urged training boys and girls for farm life, 1849 5 

Low, Professor in Edinburg 4 

Luce, Gov. Cyrus G 331, 332, 333 

Lyman, Dr. R. P., Dean 1910 155, 462, 463 

M. 

M. A. C. makes fine exhibit at Chicago 100 

M. A. C. mistakes 317 

M. A. C. on committees 316 

M. A. C. prominent in State Horticultural Society 178 

McCreery, Hon. William Barber 354, 355, 492 



INDEX. 515 

Page 

McCue, Prof. C. A., an agricultural college is better with a university 503 

McDermott, Prof. Edith F 439 

MacEwan, Prof. Elias John 418, 419 

McLouth, Dr. Lewis, Elected Professor of Mechanical Engineering 83 

McLouth, Dean, urges provisions for teaching women 86 

McLouth, Dean Lewis 424, 425 

Machine shop, first 271 

Maclin, Prof. J. F 465, 466 

Macomber, A. E., helps in the history 36 

McVean, D. E 492 

Mail carried by student 46 

Main, S. G 491 

Manchester, Caleb 491 

Manchester, EUas 491 

Manual labor, compulsory broken up about 1882 141, 193 

Markham, A. B 491 

Marsh, Hollister Festus 366, 367, 368 

Marshall, Dr. C. E., head of bacteriology and hygiene 105 

Marshall, Dr. C. E., publishes text-book 228, 445 

Marston, Hon. Thomas Frank .365, 367 

Marston, Sec. William Henry Pickering 379, 380, 491 

Mayhew, Hon. Ira 16, 318 

Mayhew, D. P., Professor 398 

Martin, E. B 942 

Mayo, Prof. N. S., an agricultural college is no better with a university 503 

Members Board of Agriculture, Act of Legislature 339 

Merrill, Mary J. C, Librarian 472, 473 

Merrylees, Sarah 395 

Methods of teaching 181 

Michigan experiments before National Grant 299 

Michigan Flora by Beal and Wheeler, 1891 96 

Michigan petitions Congress for an endowment 296 

Michigan's gift of land selected 297, 298 

Miles, Dr. M., Course in Agriculture 14 

Military school 483 

Military tactics taught by appointment of the U. S. Government 78 

Mill tax, explained 302 

Millard, W. S 492 

Millard, Hon. S. M., comments on college in early day 59 

Miller, Hon. H. L ' 320 

Mills, Joseph 385 

Model farm 135 

Money, how doled out 306 

Monroe, Hon. Charles Jay, remarks by concerning the work of the first and 

second year 27, 364 

Monuments, gifts to college 242 

Moore, Hon. Charles Freeman 363 

Moore, Prof. J. S., an agricultural college is better with a university 499 

Morehouse, T. B 492 

Morrill, U. S. Senator, account of 37, 48 

Morrill, second land grant 301 

Morse, Hon. F. B., regarding Civil War 484, 492 

Mumford, Dean F. B., an agricultural college is better with a university 499 

Mumford, H. W., an agricultural college is better with a university 500 

Mumford, PL W., becomes Professor of Agriculture 105, 442 

Murray, Prof. Alexander James 420, 421 

Museum, botanical, burned in 1890, when ten years old 250 

Museum, a fine one 126 

Museum, general 249 

N. 

Naming specimens 174 

Nash, Rev. J. A., taught agriculture at Amherst, 1852 4 

Normal School wants an agricultural college 8 



516 INDEX. 

Page 

North, E. D . . 492 

Northern Michigan, a trip by Dr. Beal and Professor Bailey 87 

O. 

Oberdorfer, Hon. William J 371 , .372 

Oberlin, Ohio, the Ohio agricultural college opened in 1854 5 

Observatory 74 

Old horse barn 267 

Olympic house 199 

Orchards, history of those at the college 73 

Organizations 205 

Origin of Federal endowment 295 

Osband, E. K 493 

Osborne, Governor's veto of college bill a mistake 126 

Outside activities 315 

P. 

Paddock, Prof. Wendall, an agricultural college is better with a university 500 

Palmer, Hon. Oscar, in civil war 493 

Palmer, Hon. Oscar, sowed too much turnip seed 36 

Palmer, Hon. Oscar, student and member of the board 36, 359, 360 

Paulding, Cornelius 493 

Parsons, Hon. Philo 340, 341 

Paths of stone, 40,000 feet put down 100 

Patterson, in 1856 introduced a bill for estabhshing an agricultural college 14 

Pear orchard, in a hollow 36 

Pettit, Prof. R. H 456, 457 

Phelps, Hon. Edwin 362 

PhiUips, Hon. George W 3.56 

Pierce, A.J 493 

Pierce, Hon. John Davis, in Michigan, 1831 1,2 

Piggery 268 

Pingree, Governor Hazen S 335, 336, 493 

Plant, Prof. L. C 467, 468 

Poison, Prof. J. A 470, 471 

Population of State in 1850 43 

Poultry house, small 274 

Poultry house and yard 280, 281 

Postoffice established 1884, Hon. R. G. Baird, Postmaster 78, 278 

Power, Hon. Nathan, 1855, offered bill for establishing an agricultural school. ... 14 

Prentiss, Prof. A. N., in Civil War 408, 493 

President Roosevelt 113 

Preston, CM 493 

Promenade concert 130 

Prutzman, Hon. Abraham 345 

Prutzman, E.N 493 

Publications at college 236, 238 

R. 

Railroad Institutes, first held 110, 111 

Railwav to campus, steam 

Rats, Dr. Mills grout floors 267 

Raven, W. F., organizing clubs 117 

Reading circle courses 174, 175 

Reading course for grange by Dr. Beal and Prof. Jeffery 108 

Redfern, Hon. F. M., getting to college in 1862 45 

Redfern, F. W 493 

Residence, No. 9, Professor of Horticulture 270 

Resident graduates, little effort to secure 91 

Resident graduates from Japan, to study botanv only 95 

Reynolds, Hon. H. G., Elected Secretary 1885.": 82 

Reynolds, Hon. Henry Graham 381, 382 



INDEX. 517 

Page 

Rich, Hon. Charles, Jr 344, 345 

Rich, Governor John T 334, 335 

Rising, Hon. Ehjah Waldo 355, 356 

Road, stone to Lansing 113 

Rasier, L' Abbe, taught agriculture in France 4 

Round up institute begins 104 

Rural schools, lessons for 146 

Russel, O. D 473 

Ryder, Prof. E. H 469, 470 

S. 

Saints' Rest 267 

Salaries of professors 43, 54, 31 1 

San Jose Scale, abundant 106 

Sanderson, Director E. D., an agricultural college is better with a university. . . . 500 

Satterlee, Prof. James 82, 420, 421 

Sawyer, Prof. A. R 452 

Scheme of recitations, 1872 139, 193 

School, establishing 477, 478, 479 

Schoolhouse, pubUc 212 

Scott, A. H 494 

Seeds of weeds and grasses given schools 132 

Semi-centennial 113 

Seminary, Raisin Valley required manual labor, 1847 5 

Shaw, Dean R. S., becomes Professor Agriculture 106, 446, 447 

Shearer, Jonathon, advocated education for farmers, 1844 5 

Shearman, Hon. Francis W., Supt. of Instruction, on an agricultural school 7 

Shed for manure 117 

Sheep barn 53 

Shoesmith, Prof. V. M 462, 463 

Shoesmith, Prof. V. M., an agricultural college is no better with a university. . . . 500 

Shop methods 190 

Short courses 66, 100, 146, 180 

Silo, the first one at the college, 1881 75 

Simpson, Prof. Wendell Lee 426, 427 

Sinclair, Jane S., Librarian 472, 473 

Skinner, J. D., Jr 494 

Skinner, M. C 494 

Slaughter house 116 

Smith, Prof. CUnton DeWitt 99, 105, 435 

Smith, Prof. L. J., an agricultural college is better with a university 500 

Smith, W. A 494 

Snyder, J. LeMoine, President 102, 395, 396 

Snyder, J. L., is it better for an agricultural college to be alone or with a university? 505 

Societies for men and women 092 

Societies, Greek Letter 211 

Societies, religious 212 

Societies, scientific, etc 210 

Society for the Promotion of Agricultural Science begun 75 

Spencer, Hon. Horace Cooley 361, 365 

Split stone 310 

State academy science begins 101 

State Board of Agriculture 47, 116, 324, 325 

State Grange, Master Horton 309 

Stevens, J. A. 494 

Strange, Daniel, concerning college in 1864 62 

Street cars get onto campus 103 

Student council 218 

Student government, begun about 1878 77 

Student labor 33, 94 

Students lose shirts 58 

Students, more dormitories needed 86 

Students number 627 105 

Studies, program for in 1871 69 



518 INDEX. 

Page 

Swamp lands for support 34 

Sweet, A. K 494 

T. 

Taft, Levi Ransom 105, 163, 426, 427 

Tappan, Henrv P., urges a grant for an agricultural college and makes plans for 

it in 1852" 8 

Taylor, W. A., an agricultural college is better with a university 503 

Teaching in the orchard 170 

Testing seeds 174 

Thomas, W. A 494 

Thompson, A. J 494 

Thurber, Professor George 406 

Tobacco, use of 43 

Toledo Blade, President WilUams editor of 37 

Tool house 270 

Tool house and pond in botanic garden 254 

Toumey, Dean J. W., an agricultural college is better with a university 500 

Tracy, Professor Calvin 397 

Tracy, S. M 494 

Tracy, Professor W. W 413 

Trees, care of at Harvard, by Prof. Lowell 263 

Trees planted by Dr. Beal at college and elsewhere in State 144 

Trees and shrubs, list of 73, 95 

A second hst 105, 260 

Trees planted, first, who furnished them 259 

Tree tops cut off by C. E. HoUister, 71 259 

Trolley station, cooperative book store 277 

Troop, Prof. James, an agricultural college is better with a university 501 

U. 

Union literary hall 195 

University of Michigan began 1841 1 

University wants an agricultural college 8 

V. 

Vacation, the long one comes in winter 103 

Van Fleet, J. M 494 

Van Loo, C 495 

Van Norman, H. E., an agricultural college is better with a university 501 

Vedder, Herman Klock 432, 433 

Vernou, Major Charles Alexander 443, 444 

Veterinary laboratory, first 271 

Veterinary medicine at M. A. C. beginning 155 

Veterinary medicine, mode of teaching 185 

Veterinary professorship important 33 

W. 

Wallace, J. N 495 

Wallace, Hon. WilUam H 369, 370 

Warner, Governor Fred M 337, 338 

Water garden 262 

Waterbury, Hon. I. Rov 373, 374 

Waterman, Prof. George Alfred 440, 441 

Watkins, Hon. Lucius Whitney. 368 

Weather Bureau, U. S 256 

Weather observations 256 

Weeks, Professor R. D 399 

Weil, Professor Charles Lewis 156, 436, 437 

Welch, Dr. Adonijah S 346, 347 

Wellings, Dr. J. H 475 



INDEX. 519 

Page 

Wells, Hon. Franklin, 30 years member of the board 108, 331 

Well's Hall burned 109, 270 

Well's Hall, second • • • 283, 284 

Wells, Hezekiah G 83, 342, 343 

Wheeler, Prof. C. F 495 

White, Dean Georgia Laura '-'^^t "J^^ 

Whitney, T. W 495 

Wilder, President Marshall P., report on agricultural schools in Europe, 1851 .... 11 

Willard, Hon. George 321, 322 

Williams Hall •^"8 

Williams, President Joseph R 5, 36, 37, 38, 308, 385 

WilUts, Edwin, President 82, 84, 86, 390, 391 

Willson, C. A., an agricultural college is better with a umversity 501 

Wilson. Prof. V. T - 458, 459 

Winchell, Professor Alexander, 1855, reasons for an agricultural college at the 



university. 



9 



Windbreak of maples and spruces 88 

Wisner, E. M 495 

Woman's Building 105, 149, 275, 301 

Woman's course begins 1895 • 1^2 

Women admitted to Abbot Hall 103 

Women, education of 150, 151, 15^ 

Women students visit markets, shops, etc 153 

Wood, W. A 495 

Woodbury, Prof. C. G., an agiicultural college is better with a university 501 

Woodman, Hon. Jason 377, 378 

Wright, Hon. Luther Lampheare 375, 376 

Wynans, Governor Edwin B 335 

Y. 

Yerkes, Hon. Silas A 343, 344, 495 

Z. 
Zoology, mode of teaching 182 











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